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PUBLISHED UNDER AUSPICES OF THE 



Sayannah, Florida k Western iiaiiwaL 
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AND 

Macon k Brunswicli Rail Pioad. 

COMPILED BY 

JOSEPH TILLMAN, Editor, and C. P. GOODYEAR, Associate Editor, 

Of WA YCR OSS REP OR TER. ' ' 
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CO^TAINI}(G Y/LUABLE INFOIjMATiO^ TO 

Farmers, Naval Stores ManiifaGtiirers, Timber Men, 

Lnmkr Manutacturers, Fruit Growers, YegetaWe 

Growers, Tourists, Malids, Pleasure Seekers, 

Travellers, Parties Seetlng New Homes, 



-AND- 



All who desire to better their condition. 



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SAVANNAH TIMES steam' PRINTING HO.USE, *^" 
5 DRAYTON STREET. 



INTRODUCTION 



The undersigned, as editor and associate editor of the Way- 
cross Reporter, are engaged by the Savannah, Florida 
Western, Brunswick and Albany and Macon and Brunswick Rail- 
road Companies, which form the railroad system of South Geor- 
gia, in advocating and preparing the public mind for a compre- 
hensive system of immigration from the North, Northwest and 
Europe. A short time since we conceived the idea of the pre- 
sentation to our visitors at the exposition in pamphlet form of a 
short description of South Georgia, and with the approval of the 
railway companies named, present the material in the following 
pages, which is a hasty condensation of matter appearing in the 
hies of the Reporter and from other sources, lacking in literary 
hnish, but a truthful presentation of this section, and the advantages 
it offers to settlers. 

JOSEPH TILLMAN, 

Editor Waycross Reporter. 

C P. GOODYEAR, 

Associate Editor Waycross Reporter. 



CHAPTER I. 

The Railroad System of South Georgia. 



The Savannah, Florida and Western, Macon and Brunswick 
and Brunswick and Albany Railroads constitute the railway com- 
munications of South Georgia. 

The Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, starting at 
Savannah, the second cotton port in importance in the South, 
traverses the whole of Southern Georgia to Bainbridge on the 
Flint river, 237 miles, with an Albany branch from Thomasville, 
58 miles, a Florida division from DuPont, Ga., to Live Oak, 
Fla., 48 miles, and a division from Waycross, Ga., to Jackson- 
ville, Fla., 74 miles long, making a total of 417 miles under its 
management. 

The Florida division will soon be extended south through the 
whole length of the Peninsula of Florida to a port on the Gulf 
coast, some 260 miles-, and the main line will also soon be ex- 
tended across the Chattahoochee river to western connections 
with New Orleans and other points. This road has long had the 
greater portion of the Western travel of pleasure-seekers and 
invalids to Florida, and offers them the coming season, through 
its Waycross division, not only the shortest route, but rapid 
traveling in the finest coaches that modern skill has devised, to 
Jacksonville, the terminus of the Waycross division, the Metropo- 
lis of Florida, situated upon the lovely St. John's river, famed far 
and wide for its ample and excellent hotels, rapidly growing in 
commercial importance and population, the key to the vast ter- 
ritory drained by the St. John's and Indian rivers, and contain- 
ing in city and suburbs a population of 13,500. 

The Macon and Brunswick Railroad, now a part of the Cole- 
Seney syndicates vast system of roads, some 2,400 miles in length, 
starting at Brunswick, traverses Southern Georgia to Macon, 189 
miles, with a branch from Cochrane to Hawkinsville, 10 miles 
long, and is now rapidly being completed to Rome, Ga., where 
it will connect with the Cole-Seney system of roads to Memphis, 



6 SOl'THERN (;f:()Rgia. 

Selma, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, the Shenandoah 
Valley, Norfolk and the vast West and Northwest. A large num- 
ber of branch lines as feeders, it is expected, will soon be built 
in Georgia. 

The Brunswick and Albany Railroad, now the property of the 
Erlanger-Seligman syndicates vast system of roads, which have 
been purchased and welded into a system through the exertions 
of Fred. Wolffe, Esq., who occupies the same relation to this 
system that Col. Cole occupies toward the Cole-Seney syndicate, 
and Major Haines occupies toward the Savannah, Florida and 
Western system, the organizing genius of each having made 
these vast systems of roads a reality. Starting at Brunswick, 
traverses wSouth Georgia to Albany, Ga., 171 miles, with charter 
privileges to the Chattahoochee river, and will soon be completed 
west to Selma, Ala., becoming part of an uninterrupted through 
line to Vicksburg, thence to the Texas and Southern Pacific 
system, making nearly an air line to the Pacific coast, the gaps in 
which are rapidly being constructed, with branches to Memphis, 
New Orleans, Chattanooga, Cincinnati and other points, with 
projected branches in Georgia, especially from Albany to Colum- 
bus, Ga. 

These three companies control vast amounts of American and 
foreign capital, and will all build branches as feeders of their 
main lines whenever the development of the country w'arrants, 
and are prepared to aid in hastening such development by active 
co-operation with the people in any well considered plan for a 
comprehensive system of immigration. 

The rates of freight from the North and West by the Green 
Line, and the steam and packet communication at Savannah and 
Brunswick, compare favorably with Northern rates. Local pas- 
senger and freight rates are low also. The roads are ne\'er 
blockaded by ice or snow, seldom obstructed by floods, have easier 
grades, consequent increased hauling capacity, and have fast 
mails, ample post office facilities, and an express system admirably 
conducted by the Southern Express Company, of which H. B. 
Plant is President, equal to the best express service of the North 
and West. The Savannah, Florida and Western Railway Com- 
pany, in connection with the Southern Expicess Company, 
steamers on the St. John's river and steamships at Savannah and 
Charleston, and rail communication North and West, through 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 7 

Savannah, Jesup and Albany, makes a specialty of ti^ansportation 
of fruits, vegetables and all classes of perishable agricultural pro- 
ducts to Northern and Western markets, in cars specially 
adapted to the purpose, by fast passenger trains. Savannah and 
Brunswick have regular and ample steamship and packet com- 
munication with New York and other Northern cities, and the 
extension of these lines West, as detailed in a description of these 
roads, will within the next eighteen months add to the facilities 
already detailed tenfold. 



CHAPTER II. 

General Description of South Georgia. 



Southern Georgia is almost entirely comprised within the. Pine 
belt, a vast forest of ])ine one hundred and fifty miles deep, and in 
Georgia alone, from the Savannah to the Chattahoochee rivers, 
two hundred and forty miles in length. The timber, lumber and 
naval stores manufactured from these vast forests are eagerly 
sought by all the great markets of the world. The land is flat 
near the coast ; rolling, even hilly, in the interior. A chain ot 
islands extends along the coast, described elsewhere, and very 
fertile. The land on the rivers is very rich ; elsewhere it is a 
sandy loam, in most sections with a clay subsoil, is easily worked, 
responds readily to enrichment, and while some portions, 
especially those on the water courses of the southwest and the 
red lands are very rich, nearly the whole is tillable, and, with 
occasional light manuring, continue to produce good crops from 
year to year. It is, as a general rule, sparsely settled, and the 
lands are the cheapest in the State. The leading field products 
are cotton, sugar cane, corn, rice, oats, potatoes and field peas. 
The country being open, and the pasturage good throughout the 
year, large numbers of beef cattle and sheep are raised annually 
for market, at a cost purely nominal, as they require neither to 
be fed nor sheltered. See elsewhere article on sheep husbandry. 



8 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Cotton is produced generally throughout the section — the sea 
island, or long staple variety, in the counties bordering on Florida 
and along the coast. This class of cotton is used in the manu- 
facture of the finer fabrics, and in combination with silk, but is 
less cultivated than in former years, the demand for it having 
been lessened by the improvement in the staple and quality of 
the common cotton, and in the machinery for its manufacture. 

The rice lands lie chiefly on the tide water, and are among the 
most valuable and productive on the southern coast. Consider- 
able rice is also grown, chiefly for home consumption, on inland 
swamps and low lands in Middle as well as in Lower Georgia, 
though the rice that enters into commerce comes chiefly from the 
country along the coast. Upland rice is also grown with profit 
on the pine lands. 

Sugar cane is also an important crop of Southern Georgia, and 
could be made among the most profitable. It grows luxuriandy, 
and yields profitable returns in sugar and syrup. Yet, but little 
sugar is made for market, the planters usually confining them- 
selves to a sufficiency for home demand, and relying chiefly upon 
the syrup as a marketable crop. To show the capacity of the 
soil under high culture, we mention one instance among the many 
of equal production that are well vouched for. In 1874, Mr. 
John J. Parker, of Thomas county, produced, on one acre, 694^ 
gallons oi cane syrup, worth seventy-five cents per gallon, or 
$520 87. The total cost of production was $77 50, leaving a net 
profit of $443 37. 

This section of the State also produces an excellent quality of 
light tobacco, such as is manufactured into cigars, though the 
plant will eventually run into the heavy leaf unless the seed are 
renewed annually from the West Indies. 

Except on the Alapaha river where an extraordinarily fine 
quality of tobacco has been grown for more than a generation 
from the seed raised on the soil, without deterioration of the 
quality of the product. 

South Georgia is well watered by numerous rivers and creeks, 
and water is found in inexhaustible quantities everywhere by dig- 
ging a depth of ten to twenty feet. By early planting in January, 
February and March, which the exceedingly mild climate makes 
practicable, droughts can be avoided, and a fall crop can always 
be raised after the hot season of summer with profit. During the 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 9 

drought of the past summer, when whole sections of the south 
and west have been scorched and dried up and their crops 
ruined, South Georgia has raised fair crops and has been less 
affected by the drought than other portions of the State. The 
timber, lumber and naval stores interests, which are gigantic in 
their proportions, furnish a home market for the products of the 
soil. There is ample timber, not fit for lumber, left upon the lands 
cut over by the lumber manufacturers. There are, in addition to 
the yellow pine, the , chief timber of the country, as many as 
twenty-five varieties of wood, valuable in the manufacture of 
furniture, wagons, carriages and other articles of use. 



CHAPTER III. 



Stations and Points of Interest on the Savannah, 
Florida and Western Railway. 



SAVANNAH, GA. 

Savannah, Chatham, county, Georgia, the eastern terminus of 
the road, is the principal city of the State, situated on river of 
same name, eighteen miles from the sea, with a capacious and 
well protected harbor, with from seventeen to twenty-one feet of 
water at high and low tide. Improvements are now being made 
in the river with a view to obtaining depth sufficient for any 
vessel. 

Savannah has a population of from 32,000 to 35,000 inhabitants. 
It is the second largest cotton port in the United States, while its 
shipments of rice, lumber and naval stores are immense. It is un- 
questionably the handsomest city in the South. Laid out with 
broad streets, closely shaded by beautiful trees that are green the 
year round, it has justly obtained the soubriquet of the "Forest 
City." 

The city has ample transportation facilities ; the Charleston & 
Savannah Railroad connecting Charleston and the North ; 
the Central (Georgia) to Augusta, Atlanta and the Northwest, 



lO SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

while the Savannah Florida & Western Railway opens up the 
rich and growing- sections of South Georgia and the whole State 
of Florida. The magnificent steamships of the Ocean Steamship 
Company make semi-weekly trips to New York, while Philadel- 
phia, Baltimore and Boston are connected by weekly lines steam- 
ships of great capacity and elegant accommodations. 

It has some manufacturing interests, viz : a cotton factory, 
cotton batting mill,' paper, mill, rice mills, foundries, machine 
shops and cotton seed oil mills. 

The free school system is admirably arranged. Especial atten- 
tion has been given to its sanitary condition. Comparative state- 
ments show it to be one of the healthiest cities in the South. The 
climate i,s better suited to some invalids than points further South. 
With its excellent hotel accommodations, travelers will always 
find a sojourn here pleasant. 

Forsyth Park, twenty acres in area, is an attractive resort ; the 
shade trees in it, composed mostly of pines, are of the natural 
growth of the forest. In the center is a beautiful fountain, after 
the style of those in the Place de la Concordie, in Paris. The 
walks are prettily arranged, and covered with shell. 

In the rear of the Park is a large enclosure, known as the 
Parade Ground, or Park Extension, which has been somewhat 
improved by planting shade trees, laying out walks, etc. The 
Confederate Monument recently erected here by the Ladies' 
Memorial Association, in point of beauty of design and finish, 
compares favorably with any in the South. The corner-stone 
was laid on June i6th, 1874, with Masonic ceremonies, Grand 
Master Irwin, officiating, all the military force of the city being 
present. The monument was built after a design furnished by Mr. 
R. Reid, of Montreal, Canada. It stands about fifty feet in 
height, from base to crown of bronze figure on top. On the 
base are appropriate mottoes. The front panel has a figure in 
relief, representing the South mourning. The rear panel shows 
another figure of military character. The side panels bear in- 
scription : one is "To the Confederate Dead ;" on the other, 
"Come from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe upon these 
slain, that may they live." — Ezek. xxxiirg. The whole is sur- 
mounted by an elegant bronze statue of a Confederate soldier, in the 
attitude of parade rest. The whole beautifully carved, and cost, 
when completed, $25,000, exclusive of the cost of the bronze 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. [I 

statue, which latter is the gift of a munificent wealthy citizen of 
Savannah. 

Bonaventure Cemetery, three miles from the city, only fifteen 
minutes ride by the Coast Line Railroad, is one of the loveliest 
spots in the country ; long- avenues, arched by the branches of 
great live oak trees, from which an immense quantitv of gray 
moss sweeps, adding much to the solemnity of the place. Bona- 
venture derives its name from the orig-inal tract of which it formed 
a part, and which was settled about 1670 by Col. John Mulryne. 
By the marriage of his daughter, in 1761, to Josiah Tattnall, of 
Charleston, it came in possession of the latter family. This mar- 
riage is said to have been the occasion of the planting of the trees 
which adorn the place. It is said that they were planted in the 
forms of the letters M and T, the initials of the bride's and 
groom's respective family names. 

Thunderbolt, the terminus of the Coast Line Railroad, four 
miles from the city, the Scheutzen Platz, on the same line, Isle of 
Hope and Montgomery, on the Savannah Skidaway and Sea- 
board Railroad, distant seven and ten miles respectively, are 
pleasant places of resort, much frequented by the citizens of 
Savannah. 

Tybee Island, at the mouth of the Savannah river, and Beach 
Hammock, several miles south, are becoming" very prominent as 
seaside resorts. 

Fort Pulaski, on Cockspur Island, near the mouth of Savan- 
nah river, was the scene of a weary siege during the late v/ar. 
The fort was badly battered up by the Federal guns from Tybee 
Island. Since the war it has been thoroughly repaired. 

Millers, No. i, Chatham county, Georgia; 10 miles from Savan- 
nah, 2 miles west of the Little Ogeechee river ; post office. 

Ways StrlfioH. No. i ^j, Bryan county, Georgia ; 16 miles from 
Savannah ; post office. Just east of this station the road crosses 
the Great Ogeechee river, on which are situated many of the 
largest rice fields in the State. At Genesis Point, below the 
railroad bridge. Fort MgAUister is situated, which the Federal 
fleet made several unsuccessful attempts to pass, to capture the 
blockade runner '^Rattlesnake," formerly the steamship Nashville, 
which was lying above. They finally succeeded in sinking it with 
guns. Fort McAllister was stormed from the rear, and captured 
by a portion of Sherman's army, December 20, 1S64. 



I 2 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Fleming', No. 2, Liberty county, Georgia ; 24'milesTrom Savan- 
nah; post and telegraph offices. Sunbury, 15 miles from here, on 
the coast, is one of the oldest settlements in the State. 

Mclntosll, No. 3, Liberty county, Georgia; 31 miles from 
Savannah ; post office. This is the nearest station to Flemington, 
distant 2^ miles, Hinesville, the county site, 5 miles, and Rice- 
boro, 10 miles. 

WalthoiU'ville, No, 4, Liberty county, Georgia; 38 miles from 
Savannah ; post office. The village of same name, i ^ miles 
from the station, is pleasantly located, and was formerly the home 
of many of the wealthy planters from the coast, and was noted 
for the intelligence and refinement of its society ; there are a few 
of the old families still residing there. 

Johnston, No. 4)^, Liberty county, Georgia; 46 miles from 
Savannah; post office. Six and a half miles from this station, 
the road crosses the Altamaha river, on a lattice bridge with four 
spans. This river is one of the largest in the State. It is formed 
by the junction of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers ; the former 
is navigable for steamers to Dublin, and the latter to Macon. 
Large quantities of lumber, etc., are shipped by this river to 
Darien, Ga., at its mouth, on the coast. 

Doctortown, No. 5, Wayne county, Georgia ; 53 miles from 
Savannah ; post office. This station is the site of an old Indian 
town, and the former abode of a celebrated "medicine man ;" 
hence the name of the place. 

Jesiip, No. 6, Wayne county, Georgia ; 57 miles from Savannah : 
county seat; telegraph office and junction of the Macon and 
Brunswick Railroad ; 40 miles from Brunswick and 146 from 
Macon. The new and commodious "Altamaha Hotel" here will 
accommodate 100 guests. The hotel is also the eating house for 
passengers via the Macon and Brunswick Railroad ; trains stop 
20 minutes for meals. A weekly paper, the Jesup Sentinel, is 
published here. The pLice is growing rapidly ; population 750. 

Screven, No. 7, Wayne county, Georgia ; 68 miles from 
Savannah ; post and express offices. 

Patterson, No. 7>^, Pierce county, Georgia; 78 miles from 
Savannah ; post office. On the line of the road in vicinity of this 
place are located a number of steam saw mills for cutting yellow 
pine lumber. 

Blacksliear, No. 8, Pierce county, Georgia ; 86 miles from 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. I 3 

Savannah; population about 1,200. This point offers many- 
inducements to those seeking health and winter homes in the 
South. The society is good, and many evidences are presented 
of steady, permanent growth. It is situated in the great pine 
belt of Georgia ; land in this section is slightly rolling, hence is 
well drained ; climate is delightful and healthy the year round ; 
land is cheap and the inhabitants kindly disposed to settlers. 
Brown's Hotel, recently built, will accommodate 40 to 50. 
Knowles' House will accommodate about 30. Board, per day, 
$1.50; per week, $6.00; per month, $15 to $20. 

Waycross, Ware county, Georgia ; 96 miles from Savannah ; 
county seat; post office; population, 600; junction of Brunswick 
and Albany Railroad. This town was laid out in 1872. It stands 
on a sandy ridge, with clay subsoil, and a clear, bold stream of 
running water on the south. From its advantageous position, it 
bids fair to become a place of some note, and has already attracted 
the notice of a colony from New Jersey, many of whom have 
recently made their homes here, attracted by the advantages of 
good land, cheap homesteads, and the general thrifty appearance 
of the town. 

Tebeauville, No. 9, Ware county, Georgia ; 97 miles from 
Savannah ; post and telegraph offices. This is a place near the 
northern portion of the celebrated Okefenokee Swamp, which 
abounds with game of all descriptions. 

Glenmore, No. 10, Ware county, Georgia ; 108 miles from 
Savannah ; post office. 

Argyle, No. 10)^, Clinch county, Georgia; 116 miles from 
Savannah. 

Homerville, No. 11, Clinch county, Georgia; 122 miles from 
Savannah; post office; county seat; population, 350; academy 
Methodist and Baptist churches. 

DuPont, No. 12, Clinch county, Georgia; 131 miles from 
Savannah ; telegraph and post offices ; junction with the Florida 
division of the Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad. 
Located on heavy timbered pine lands. The health of DuPont 
and surrounding country is unparalleled; no typhoid or other 
miasmatic sickness. As a farming country, it is pronounced by 
experienced planters to be superior to Virginia or Carolina ; the 
range is good for cattle and hogs. Cheap lands in abundance 
for emigrants, much of it from fifty cents to one dollar per acre. 



14 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Stockton, No. 13, Clinch county, Georgik ; 13S miles from 
Savannah; post office; population, 150. The village is pleas- 
antly located in an elevated pine region. There is a pottery 
located here, which makes a .superior article of earthen ware for 
domestic use. 

Naylor, No. 14, Lowndes county, Georgia: 144 miles from 
Savannah; population, 100; post office, one church, one hotel, 
one academ}^, one saw mill, and three stores ; healthy locality. 
Lands sell from Si. 00 to -$5.00 ]3er acre. Tl^e productions of 
surrounding country are long and short cotton, corn, rice, oats, 
sweet potatoes, sugar cane, and nW kinds of vegetables. The 
Alapaha river, two miles distant, abounds in fish. Milltown, a 
village ten miles distant, and near the famous Banks Mill Pond ; 
area of pond ten square miles ; water sufficient to drive a large 
amount of machiuery. Nashville, county seat of Berrien county, 
27 miles distant ; excellent section for farming, hog, sheep and 
cattle raising. 

Valdosta, No. 15, Lowndes county, Georgia; 157 miles from 
Savannah ; post and telegraph offices ; county seat ; population 
about 2,000. This is a place of considerable importance in this 
section. Surrounded by a very fertile country, entirely free from 
malaria, it offers many inducements to settlers. Cotton, grain of 
all kinds, (especially corn, wheat and oats, ) sugar cane, potatoes, 
and the products of this section are abundantly produced. The 
winters are mild and pleasant, and the invalid may here find a 
cheap and comfortable home. The town is finely situated and 
neatly laid, off, containing many brick store houses, and a new 
brick court house. There are four churches — Methodist, Baptist, 
Presbyterian and Christian — several schools, a well-kept hotel, 
and a bank. The Valdosta l^inics, a weekly newspaper, is pub- 
lished here. The trade of the place supports some 26 "stores. 
Good farming lands in the vicinity can be bought at from $1.00 
to $5.00 per acre, depending upon improvement. At this point 
the "cotton belt" of Georgia begins. To parties seeking invest- 
ment in lands, or permanent homes in the South, or a place to 
spend a winter pleasantly, Valdosta presents many inducements. 
Name of hotel — Stuart's Railroad House, C. T. Stuart, pro- 
prietor ; accommodation for fifty ; opposite Savannah, Florida 
and Western Railway depot. Rates of boai'd, $2.00 per day: 
S18.00 to $25.00 per month. Board can be had in private house® 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. I 5 

at $ro.oo to $15.00 per month. There are three livery stables 
here, which furnish good teams at moderate rates. 

Olisley, No. 15^2, Lowndes county, Georgia ; 166 miles from 
Savannah ; post office. One and.a half miles west of this station 
the road crosses the Withlacoochee river, near which is the 
Boston or Blue Springs. These Springs have quite a reputation, 
and are much frequented by the people of the adjacent country. 

Quitman, No. 16, Brooks county, Georgia ; 174 miles from 
Savannah; post office, money order and telegraph offices ; county 
seat ; population about 2,000. This town is situated in the midst of 
one of the finest farming sections of Southwestern Georgia. The 
principal productions of the county are corn, cotton, oats, rye, 
ground-peas, field-peas, sugar cane, potatoes, Irish and sweet, 
and rice. Some wheat has been raised in the county, but has not 
been generally sown, owing to the want of flouring mills. Almost 
all kinds of vegetables are grown here. Peas, beets, squashes, 
cucumbers, onions, radishes, cabbages, tomatoes, strawberries, 
etc., are grown in great quantities. Watermelons, muskmelons, 
cantelopes and pumpkins do remarkably well. In fact, every and 
all kinds of common products for which the human family find 
a relish are grown here in bountiful supply. Some of these 
products can be made to yield two and three times a year, such 
as Irish potatoes and field-peas. 

The average yield of corn is 10 bushels per acre, though it has 
been increased to 90 bushels per acre. Improved farming has 
increased the yield, in very many instances, to 30 and 40 bushels 
to the acre. The average yield of oats is 15 bushels per acre, 
cotton a bale of 500 pounds to three acres, rye 8 to 12 bushels, 
ground-peas 20 to 30 bushels. Sugar cane yields from 300 to 
to 550 gallons syrup per acre, and other things in the same pro- 
portion. Attention is now being directed to fruit, and vegetable 
market gardening, and whenever it has been tried, success has 
been the result, the railroads offering every facility for shipping 
these early products. Taxes are exceeding moderate — the 
average aggregate State and county tax being about 75-2 mills. 
Land is readily purchased in desirable quantities, and at prices 
varying from $1.00 to $20.00 per acre, according to quality. The 
climate is delightful, and free from malarial diseases. The in- 
habitants of this section are progressive and intelligent, and alive 
to the importance of immigration. The town of Quitman is 



1 6 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

eligibly situated, and contains five churches — three white and 
two colored ; also, a flourishing school. Seven miles east from 
Quitman, in said count)^, is a large, bold, limestone spring, about 
one hundred feet in circumference, and fifteen feet in its deepest 
part. This is quite a resort as a watering place, there being 
near — just across the county line, but within a few hundred yards 
— a fine sulphur spring of efficacious medicinal qualities. 

Dixie, No. 17, Brooks county, Georgia; 181 miles from 
Savannah ; post and express offices. Grooverville is 6 miles 
distant. 

Boston, No. 18, Thomas county, Georgia ; 188 miles from 
Savannah ; 9 miles from the Florida line ; i mile from the Aucilla 
creek ; 2 miles from Piscola creek ; population 500 ; post and 
express offices, and Masonic Lodge and Patrons of Husbandry. 
Five churches in this place. Baptist, Pi'esbyterian and Methodist, 
and colored Baptist and Methodist ; also, good male and female 
schools. Boston is pleasantly situated, and extremely healthy. 
Water good, in wells, and plenty of spring water in the incorpo- 
rate limits. Boston is entirely surrounded by the best average 
farming lands in the State; very productive of corn, peas, 
potatoes, oats, highland rice, sugar cane and cotton, and ad- 
mirably adapted to fruit, when cultivated, especially grapes, pears, 
peaches, plums, apples and tropical fruits. The very finest water- 
melons abound in all parts of the country, in their season. These 
lands can be bought at prices ranging from $5.00 to $8.00 per 
acre for improved, and from $1.00 to $4.00 per acre for grazing. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



17 



(Contributed by John Triplet, Editor Thomasville Times.) 

THOMAS COUNTY, GA. 

A Fair Sample of the Interior Counties of South 

Georgia. 



The natural advantages for man's sustenance and enjoyment 
are more equally distributed throughout the earth than is 
generally supposed ; but when the climate, the seasons, the water 
courses, the soil and its varied productions, the proximity to the 
great highways of commerce, and the topography of 

THOMAS COUNTY, GEORGIA, 

are duly considered and compared with the advantages of other 
sections, nature will be found to have expended here more than 
an average share of her blessing. 

LOCALITY. 

Thomas county lies in the southwestern portion of the State, 
being bounded on the south by Florida, and having only one 
county (Decatur) on the west between it and Alabama, The 
Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, from Savannah to 
Bainbridge, runs through from east to west, dividing the county 
into two nearly equal sections, and touching its county site, 
Thomasville, exactly two hundred miles westward from Savannah. 
The South Georgia and Florida Railroad, fifty-eight miles long, 
starts at Thomasville and connects at Albany with the South- 
western Railroad, and the entire railway system of the State, and 
of Alabama by way of Eufaula and Montgomery. 

Arrangements are being made to extend the Savannah, Florida 
and Western Railway so as to make an direct connection 
with New Orleans. Thus this section will be on the great high- 
way between New Orleans and the nearest Atlantic port. Over 
this route will, necessarily and naturally, flow a large portion of 
the productions of the Mississippi^valley. 



I 8 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

THE CLIMATE. 

Lying, as it does, but a few degrees north of the tropics, snow is 
seen only about once or twice in an ordinary Htetime,and the ground 
never freezes enough to prevent the entrance of the plow ; while 
in summer, the heat of an almost vertical sun is tempered by 
breezes from the Gulf and the Atlantic that the thermometer 
rarely ever registers more than ninety degrees in the shade, and 
the nights are never oppressively, nor even uncomfortably warm. 
The disagreeable "Northers" of the western plains in the same 
latitude are never known in this section, nor the sudden changes 
from heat to cold so common in the Atlantic States a few degrees 
north of this section. Laboring men can work twelve months in 
the year in this county and have perfect health at the same time. 
It is as free from malaria and all climatic diseases as any portion 
of the west or northwest. 

ITS SALUBRITY 

is in fact not surpassed by that of any section of the whole 
country. Those dreadful scourges, cholera and yellow fever, 
have never yet penetrated to this section ; lung diseases are very 
rare, and usually of a mild type; and typhoid fevers are com- 
paratively unknown and much less severe than in more northern 
and elevated regions. 

THE SEASONS. 

As there are no extremes of heat or cold, so there is an 
exemption of such floods or droughts as sometimes visit the 
northern and western sections of the Union. No such thing as a 
general failure of crops has ever been known in Thomas county. 
Small grain may be sown whenever convenient, from September 
to February. Potatoes will produce good crops planted any 
time during the first six months of the year, and two crops are 
often made on the same ground. Sweet potatoes are planted 
from February to July and from May to July; the "draws" or 
cuttings from the vines already growing "being set out" instead 
of planting the seed potatoes. Turnips are sown in July, August 
and Septmeber, and also in February and March for spring crop. 
Corn is planted from February to June, cotton, generally in April; 
sugar cane, in February and March. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 1 9 

There is not a month in the year that a farmer may not plant 
some crop and gather some other. 

V/ATER COURSES. 

The Ocklockonee River in the west, and the Aucilla in the 
eastern portion of the county, with their numerous tributaries 
from hving springs, furnish an abundance of good, pure freestone 
water for all purposes. Good freestone water can also be had 
from wells in any part of the county at an average depth of 
twenty-five feet. 

THE SOIL. 

The surface of the county is undulating with a variety of soil 
adapted to almost any and all kinds of agricultural and horticul- 
tural products. Cotton and corn are the principal productions, 
but rice, sugar-cane, oats, rye, pindars, and peas are as profitably 
grown. From ten to fifty bushels of corn are produced to the 
acre ; from ten to fifty bushels of rice, from fifty to two hundred 
bushels of Irish potatoes, from one to three hundred bushels of 
sweet potatoes, from one to three hundred bushels of 
turnips, from two to four hundred gallons of good syrup from 
sugar-cane, and from one bale of cotton to five acres, to one bale 
per acre. 

Under the intensive system of farming, the soil is capable of 
producing very large crops. One hundred and nineteen bushels 
of corn, ninety-five bushels of oats, seven hundred and five gal- 
lons of syrup, eighty-four bushels of rice, each, have been made 
to the acre. 

STOCK. 

and poultry, of almost every kind, are easily raised here. Of 
the former, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep and goats, with proper at- 
tention, can be tuade very profitable ; the large area of unculti- 
vated lands being specially adapted to the purpose. 

MELONS AND FRUIT. 

Melons of every variety and of superior size and quality are 
grown throughout the county, while fruits, such as peaches 
apples, pears, figs and plums, grow luxuriously and bear bounti- 



20 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

fully. Among the small fruits, such as raspberries, strawberries, 
etc., as fine specimens may be seen here as can be found any- 
where. 

Here may be seen some of the finest orchards in existence of 
the famous LeConte pear. It is one of the most rapid growers 
of the pear family, yields largely and compares in size and flavor 
with the standard varieties. Thomas county and the whole of 
South Georgia is the home of this prolific fruit. A specimen of 
the trees — a five-year-old — will be set out on the Exposition 
grounds. 

GRAPES. 

Recent experiments have fully demonstrated the fact that the 
growing of the grape, both for table use and the manufacture of 
wine, is a complete success, and promises, ere long, to become a 
source of considerable profit. All the leading varieties, Scup- 
pernong, Hartford, Concord, Delaware, etc., etc., are grown in 
the highest perfection in the vineyard, while the woodlands 
abound with the wild varieties. 

THE MORALS 

of the people of Thomas county are decidedly good. Schools 
and churches are well attended, and are so numerous as to afford 
every community the advantage of both. In addition to the 
usual number of private schools, there are several public schools 
in successful operation. 

LABOR 

is plentiful, cheap and easily controlled. Field hands command 
usually from $7 to $10 per month, and, when properly directed, 
pay a handsome profit to the employer. 

PRICE OF LANDS. 

Lands can be bought at from $1 to ^10 per acre, according to 
quality and location, and are accessible to the county site (Thom- 
asville) and the railroad depots, over public roads that can not 
be surpassed in the Southern country. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. it 



THOMASVILLE, GA. 



Having gone over, in brief, some of the Agricultural resources 
and advantages of the County, we now come to the fast growing 
town of Thomasville, the metropolis of Southern Georgia. The 
town is situated within ten hours run of Georgia's Great Atlantic 
seaport towns. Savannah and Brunswick, and within sixty miles 
of the Gulf of Mexico, from whose broad expanse of waters come 
wafted to us a sea breeze robbed of its humidity by its passage 
inland and laden with the rich aroma of the vast pine forests lying 
between this and the coast. 

To the stranger seeking a home, health is one of his first and 
highest objects. We can not throw more light upon this subject 
than by incorporating herewith the report of one of Georgia's 
most distinguished physicians to the late Medical Association of 
the State of Georgia at their last annual meeting. This body is 
distinguished alike for the high professional standard attained by 
its members and the wisdom of its deliberations as a body. 

In reference to Thomasville as a winter resort for invalids, we 
quote the following from the report of Doctor T. S. Hopkins, 
Chairman of the Committee on the practice of Medicine, second 
Congressional District, on " The Pine Forests of Southern Geor- 
gia, its Climate and Adaptability to the Consumptive," read be- 
fore the Medical Association of Georgia, at its twenty-fifth an- 
nual convocation, on the second day of April, 1874, at Thomas- 
ville, Georgia : 

" A professional experience of nearly thirty years in that portion 
of the Pine Belt of our State, lying between the Flint and Alta- 
maha rivers, has afforded me ample evidence of its peculiar 
adaptability to the consumptive. It is of rare occurrence, in our 
travels through that entire district, to find a case of consumption, 
and when found, it can be, in almost every instance, traced to 
hereditary transmission. I doubt if there is on the globe any 
region of country, of the same extent, more exempt from all dis- 
eases of the respiratory organs. I have often been surprised at 
the rapid improvement in my consumptive cases, after removal 



22 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

from the seaboard into that region. I have never seen a case of 
Pulmonary Tuberculocis in that section of country, that could be 
attributed to climatic influence. While I do not hestitate to rec- 
ommend the entire district as a safe resort for the consumptive. 
I must admit that certain localities therein possess advantages 
superior to others. With my knowledge of the country,, if an 
invalid, seeking a winter resort, I would select Thomas County, 
and preferably the town of Thomasville, on account of its eleva- 
vation, its thorough natural drainage, its pure and delightful free- 
stone waters, its dryness, its equability of temperature, and its 
remoteness from the sea. This town, with a population of three 
thousand, is situated in latitude 30 deg. 40 north, and longitude 
8 deg. 40 east. It occupies the greatest elevation of any town 
between the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, at the dividing point 
of the waters flawing into them — two hundred miles from the 
former, and sixty miles to the nearest pomt on the latter, in the 
midst of a vast pine forest of almost unlimited extent. Thus sit- 
uated the winds from the ocean reach it sifted of all saline vapor 
and moisture, comparatively warm and innoxious. The natural 
drainage of the town is excellent, fully adequate to the speedy 
removal of all the water that falls. In a few hours after the 
heaviest fall of rain the streets are dry and the atmosphere as 
clear and balmy as though no rain had fallen. In consequence 
of the rapidity with which the water is carried off, there is but lit- 
tle absorption, hence but little evaporation, and, as a conse- 
quence, less moisture than at other points less favorably situated* 
There are no bodies of water within eighteen miles of the town, 
and the nearest river is four miles distant. Fogs, which are the 
rule on the coast, are the exceptioyis here. During the past win- 
ter the mercury was at the freezing point but three times, and 
then only for a few days. 

"Some months since I addressed a circular letter to all the 
physicians with whom I was acquainted, as well as to those whose 
names were furnished me, practicing in the district of country 
referred to in this report, requesting them to furnish me the 
number of cases of Phthisis Pulmonalis coming to their knowledge 
in their respective counties during the year 1873. Twenty 
physicians were kind enough to respond : The total number of 
cases reported is three, two of which are attributed to hereditary 
transmission ; cause of the other not given. Thus, in a popula- 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 23 

tion of fifty thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, we have 
but three cases of consumption reported for the year 1873. I am 
satisfied that no other section of country can make a more favor- 
able report. Surely, a climate where consumption so rarely oc- 
curs must be a safe climate for those in whom that disease exists." 

Immediately after the reading of the report, Dr. H. V. M. 
Miller, of Atlanta, offered the following resolution, which was 
unanimously adopted by the association : 

" Resolved, That this association earnestly and fully endorse 
the opinions and statements contained in the paper just read by 
Dr. T. S. Hopkins, and in view of its importance to the whole 
country, desire to give to it the widest possible publicity." 

As an evidence that the facts set forth above are true, and are 
being widely dissemindted and appreciated, it is only necessary 
to refer to the hundreds from the North and West, who have for 
several winters past sought this place as an asylum from the 
rigors of a Northern climate. The Mitchell House, erected with 
a special view of accommodating Northern visitors, is one of the 
largest, most modern and well arranged hotels in the South. It 
was first opened in 1876, and has been crowded every season 
since. Although large and extensive in its original construction, 
the proprietor has found it necessary to add over sixty rooms, 
in order to accommodate the increasing patronage. The hotel 
has been leased for a term of years by M. A. Bower, who is run- 
ning the house in a style which will compare favorably with any 
first-class hotel North or South. Col. J. E. Bradford, one of the 
most popular and well known hotel men in the North, is general 
manager of the house. 

In addition to the Mitchell House, there is the Gulf House, 
situated near the depot, also well kept and well conducted. 
Another new hotel, near the center of the town, is being erected, 
and will be ready for guests the coming winter. Besides these 
there are many boarding houses, both public and private, where 
board can be obtained at re isonable rates. 

Thomasville is fast growing into an educational center. The 
Young Female College, and the South Georgia Agricultural Col- 
lege (male) are located here. The latter is a branch of the Uni- 
versity of Georgia, and the tuition is free. Both institutions are 
ably officered and well conducted. The following denominations 
are represented in the place : Methodists, Baptists, Presbyteri- 



24 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

ans, Episcopalians, Christians and Catholics. The latter two 
have no church, but hold regular services in commodious build- 
ings. 

The society of the town is equal to any in the State. The 
place is noted for its morality, and the reputation of its citizens 
for attending to their own business. 

Strangers who come here to setde, or upon pleasure, are 
treated kindly and cordially. The people gladly welcome any 
who come for the purpose of locating and developing the coun- 
try. They want good citizens, come they from whatever section 
they may. 

The citizens of Thomasville are liberal in their views. Con- 
scientiously holding and practicing their own views, religious 
and political, they accord the same right to others. They are 
always ready and willing to grant that to others which they 
claim for themselves. In no section of the South are visitors 
met with more genuine Southern hospitahty. To complete the 
foregoing sketch the following letter is appended. It was written 
by a Northern gentleman who settled in Thomasville : 

ThoinasviUe, Georgia, May 30, 1S76. 
H. S. L. Morse Esq., Boston, Mass. 

Dear Sir : In reply to yours of the 22nd inst., making enquiries about 
this place, and asking my advice in relation to coming here to Uve, per- 
mit me to say that I do not like to advise you about your business 
affairs, but I will freely give you the benefit of my experience and im- 
pressions after nearly two years residence in this place. I traveled 
through nearly every Southern State, including Florida, in search of a 
pleasant home in a mild climate, more especially on account of my 
health, and this place suited my ideas, as a Massachusett's man, more 
perfectly than any other one that I saw. First of all on account of its 
healthful advantages and locality, next in the intelligence and public 
spirit of the people, also its religious and educational advantages. We 
have here six churches in all, a female college, and a boys seminary, 
both of a high order, and several superior private schools, and one or 
more supported by public funds. 

Thomasville is a lively thriving town, handsomely laid out, containing 
a city hall, court house, and jail, a large hotel that would be a credit to 
any city, wide streets, beautifully shaded with evergreen oaks, mag' 
nolias, etc. To me the climate is charming, the summers are long but 
no warmer than the warmest weather of New England ; the winters are 
the crowning glory of all, with week after week of bright sunshine, and 
but a {q^ days tha make a fire necessary, particularly adapted to the 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 25 

comfort of invalids. This town is becoming a favorite resort to such 
persons during the winter. The water is good and plentiful. The soil 
is very generous in its productions with only moderately good cultiva- 
tion ; the staple products are rice, cotton, sugar-cane, corn, oats, sweet 
potatoes and pea-nuts ; almost all of the Northern fruits and vegetables 
do well here ; two crops a year are easily produced ; in fact one can 
plow, plant, hoe, and harvest every month in the year ; there is no rest 
for the farmer. The semi-tropical fruits and flowers are almost indig- 
enous. Oranges, lemons, figs, bananas, pomegranates are easily pro- 
duced with a little protection against an occasional frost. Grapes and 
small fruits are cultivated very successfully. Sheep husbandry might 
be carried on with great profit ; cows, hogs, and sheep sustain them- 
selves in vast numbers on forest grass all winter. I think a little care 
and feeding would add to the profits. Land can be purchased for one 
dollar an acre, and upwards, according to location and quality ; the tim- 
ber is yellow pine, oak, hickory, poplar, cypress, bay, beech, maple, mag- 
nolia, etc., etc. Northern people are treated with much respect and cour- 
tesy and welcomed as citizens ; and contrary to a too prevalent Northern 
notion, ladies will be welcomed into good society. Georgia ladies are 
not excelled by any others in politeness, a kind disposition and ability 
to do the agreeable. We have most excellent neighbors, kind and social 
as could be desired. To satisfy yourself on these points come here and 
judge for yourself; you will find everything new to you, all very differ- 
ent trom New England life. I like Georgia, her government and her 
people, and only regret that I did not come here at an earlier date. 

Truly yours, WM. P. HOMER. 

Cairo, No. 20, Thomas county, Georgia ; 214 miles from Sa- 
vannah ; post ofSce. 

Whighani, No. 21, Decatur county, Georgia; 221 miles west 
of Savannah ; is very pleasantly situated on Tiigh, rolling land. 
The healthfulness is unsurpassed, being almost entirely exempt 
from the malarial diseases which infest many Southern localities. 
The water in this section is unequaled, both for abundance and 
quality. A never-failing spring, equal in its character to the far- 
famed water of the hill country, is near the depot, discharging 
daily ten thousand gallons of pure cold water. The town is 
regularly laid out and incorporated, containing two good board- 
ing houses, six stores, two churches, a good academy, post office 
and express office. Two miles west is a large turpentine distill- 
ery. The land around this place is well adapted to agricultural 
purposes — both pine and hammock — lies well, and is of full 
average grade of fertility. It surpasses any region around as a 
fruit growing section. Price of land ranges in price from $1.00 



26 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

to $8.00 per acre. Six miles north is a remarkable natural curi- 
osity, known as the " Lime Sink," where a creek suddenly falls 
over a perpendicular precipice, descending into the bowels of the 
earth about 100 feet. It then disappears mysteriously under 
ground. This channel has been explored for a distance of 200 
yards from the point of its wonderful disappearance. Further 
exploration was prevented by a large river. About two miles 
from the " Lime Sink" is another remarkable natural curiosity, 
called the " Blowing Cave." Through an opening in the earth, 
nearly twelve inches in diameter, a strong current of air is ever 
passing. During the morning, or first half of the day, the air es- 
capes from the opening, but throughout the afternoon, or latter 
part of the day, the direction of the current is reversed, and is 
drawn into the opening by some unseen power of suction, said 
to be sufficiently strong to draw into the cave a handkerchief or 
any other light body. This village offers to the immigrant seek- 
ing a desirable location many inducements. 

Climax, No. 22, 227 miles from Savannah, in Decatur county, 
Georgia; post office. 

Bainbridg'e, No. 23, Decatur county, Georgia ; the present 
terminus of the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad; telegraph, post and 
express offices ; county seat; population, 1,800. Situated on the 
east bank of the Flint river, about fifty feet above the stream, 
beautifully shaded with oaks ; average annual temperature, 65, 
healthful, and climate in winter particularly favorable to the 
Northern invalid. This place does a thriving business with the 
various landings on Flint, Chattahoochee, and Apalachicola 
rivers. Steamboats, making semi-weekly trips on these rivers, 
bring a large amount of cotton to Bainbridge, for shipment to 
Savannah. The Weekly Democrat is published here. Hotel, 
Sharon House ; accommodations for 75 ; rates $2.00 per day, 
$8.00 per week, $25,00 per month ; reduced rates to families. 

Oeklocknee, Thomas county, Georgia; 211 miles from Savan- 
nah ; post and express offices. Within 2j^ miles is the finest 
water-power in Southwest Georgia, amply sufficient for a cotton 
factory. Within five miles is a fine mineral spring; it is large 
and perfectly transparent, beautifully situated, and with a small 
outlay of capital could be made a popular summer resort ; it is 
situated opposite the 216 mile post, and about 500 yards from 
the line of road. The health of this place cannot be surpassed. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 27 

Pelliain, Mitchell county, Georgia; 224 miles from Savannah. 
This section of country offers superior inducements to manufac- 
turers of naval stores. Timber plentiful and convenient to line 
of railroad. Only one man engaged in the business here. Plenty 
of room for more. Hands are easily had that understand work- 
ing the trees, such such as cutting boxes, hacking, etc. 

Camilla, Mitchell county, Georgia ; 232 miles from Savannah ; 
telegraph office ; county seat. This is a pleasant little village, 
well located in a fine cotton growing country. Population, 800. 

Baconton, Mitchell county, Georgia ; 242 miles from Savan- 
nah ; post office. 

Hardaway, Dougherty county, Georgia ; 250 miles from Sa- 
vannah ; post office. 

Albany, Dougherty county, Georgia ; 258 miles from Savan- 
nah ; terminus of the Albany division of the Savannah, Florida 
& Western Railway, and connected with Macon, Ga., by a 
branch railroad from Smithville to Arlington, 106 miles from 
Macon ; with Brunswick by the Brunswick and Albany Railroad. 
Telegraph office, county seat. Population, 3,500. From the 
central location of this town, it bids fair to become a prosperous 
city. Surrounded by the best cotton lands of the State, quite a 
trade is done in this staple. From 25,000 to 30,000 bales cotton 
are shipped from this point annually. There are several foun- 
dries and mills here, and large warehouses for the storage and 
sale of cotton. Hotels : Albany House and Bogen House ; 
rates per day, I2.00 ; per week, $10.00 ; per month, $3 .00. Albany 
possesses in the Flint river a source of unlimited water-power, 
which, when utilized in the establishment of cotton and other 
factories, must prove a source of wealth and prosperity, while its 
transportation facilities, in being a junction point of three rail- 
roads, makes it a competitive commercial center, from which it 
derives considerable advantages. 



28 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Stations and Poi7its of Interest on the Macon and Bruns- 
zvick Raih^oad. 



BRUNSWICK, GA. 

An incorporated city — the eastern terminus of the Macon and 
Brunswick and Brunswick and Albany Railroads — 189 miles from 
Macon, 171 from Albany, and 97 by rail from Savannah. 

It is situated on a peninsula running north and south, sur- 
rounded on all sides but the north, which joins the main land, by 
salt water. To the south and west lie the waters of Brunswick 
harbor, a magnificent roadstead, with depth and capacity to safely 
accommodate the largest fleets. To the eastward is St. Simon's 
Sound and the entrance from the Atlantic ocean. The distance 
from the light-house at the entrance to the eastern side of the city 
is only seven miles. 

The bar and harbor of Brunswick are unsurpassed by any 
other port south of the Chesapeake. The entrance is between the 
two islands, St. Simon's and Jekyle, and forms a wide, deep chan- 
nel, easy of approach in any weather, day or night ; having no 
sharp points, eddies, or dangerous currents, and presenting not 
the slightest difficulty of navigation even without the assistance 
of a pilot — and vessels often dispense with the services of one. 
The distance across the bar is about one-fourth of a mile, and the 
channel is of sufficient width for a vessel to beat over it if the 
wind should be adverse. 

After several thorough surveys by the United States Grvern- 
ment at different periods, of the entire coast, an admirable site for 
a Navy Yard was purchased in Brunswick harbor. The average 
rise of the tide is seven feet, which gives at high water on the bar 
24 feet. The place is unusually healthy, and vessels visit it at any 
season with impunity; No case of yellow fever is known to have 
ever originated in Brunswick, and the absence of fresh water 
streams and morasses exempts it from miasmatic fevers they pro- 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



29 



duce in so low a latitude. The temperature is very equable ; the 
mercury seldom rises to 94° or falls below 30°, the mean temper- 
ature being 67° Fahrenheit. The sea-breeze from the ocean 
tempers the heat of summer, and renders the atmosphere more 
cool and pleasant than in interior towns of higher latitudes. In 
winter the weather is mild, the air soft, and the climate considered 
by visitors as unsurpassed. 

The whole peninsula is healthy, has beautiful sites for residences, 
and excellent water. It is high and dry, and the entire plateau 
covered with a beautiful and luxuriant growth of live-oak and 
cedar. The walks and drives along the salts and through the 
woods are very attractive. On the eastern side of the city and 
beyond is a beautiful drive for miles near the water, in full view 
of St. Simon's and Jekyle islands, the light-house on the former, 
and between these islands out to the ocean. 

To those fond of yachting and hunting, the inducements offered 
by the beautiful rivers, adjacent sounds and ocean and numerous 
islands in the immediate vicinity, are unequaled. The greatest 
abundance of finest varieties of fish, oysters and other shell-fish 
are to be found in the surrounding waters. 

There is scarcely any difference in the productions of this 
neighborhood and those of Florida. The soil is light, easily 
worked and very productive of fruits and • vegetables, and one 
may usually have strawberries and green peas at Christmas in a 
well-tended garden. The ohve grows readily, and with sufficient 
attention might prove of great value. The oil it yields is so 
superior that there is a demand for it at $8.00 per gallon. Oats, 
peas, corn, cotton, rice, sweet potatoes and sugar-cane are the 
main farming products of this section. There is no reason why 
the orange should not be successfully cultivated, as was the case 
before the war; and there still exists a valuable and productive 
orange grove on Butler's Island, some fifteen miles to the north. 

Property can be had in the city and adjoining country at very 
low figures, and much below the prices in Florida. The pirnci- 
pal business of the place is in lumber and naval stores, and has 
increased rapidly within a few years. 

The wharf room available is sufficient for any city in the Union, 
and -the railroads extend to the wharves, allowing transfer of 
freight from car to ship at minimum cost. 

Brunswick is admirably situated for a great cotton mart, by 



30 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

reason of its shorter lines of communication with the cotton- 
growing districts, and superior advantages as a port of shipment, 
but the place as yet has not had sufficient capital to attract busi- 
ness in that staple. 

By the two railroads terminating at Brunswick, daily commu- 
nication is had with all points north and west and to Florida. A 
line of ocean steamers for New York touch at the port weekly, 
and, by an inland passage between the chain of beautiful coast 
islands and main land, communication is had by steamboat with 
Florida or Savannah. 

Great advantages are offered for the location of manufactories 
and other industries. Among them are the fine climate, the 
cheapness with which all needful supplies can be furnished, and 
the accessibility to other points, including the extensive coal and 
mineral beds that are being developed in Georgia and Alabama. 

Hardly any other point along the Atlantic, from Maine to 
Florida, affords such facilities for ship building, with an unlimited 
supply of the finest material at hand. 

The place is regularly and tastefully laid out with alternate 
squares, and the walks and streets are shaded with beautiful live- 
oaks, festooned with draperies of hanging moss. 

The whites have five churches, and the colored people fully as 
many. Some of the edifices are well built and attractive. Hotel 
accommodations are limited, there being but two small ones; but 
these are supplemented by several private boarding houses, which 
furnish comfortable and pleasant quarters. 

Population about 3,500. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 3 1 



EASTMJIN, DODGE COUHTY, GEORGl/. 

STATION No. 13, MACON & BRUNSWICK R. R. 

A Sample of what may be done on the Pine Lands 
of South Georgia. 



A pretty town of some six hundred inhabitants, and growing 
more rapidly than any other place upon the line of the road. In 
the center of a vast tract of lands, one-half of which has been 
owned by Northern capitalists since the days of the Indian pos- 
session, fifty years ago, and held by them for investment. Thus, 
for half a century, one of the most prominent parts of the State 
has been largely closed to the farmers of this and other States, 
and its true development retarded by the value of the pine tim- 
ber growing on these lands. 

The building of the Macon & Brunswick Railroad for fifty 
miles through this most attractive region has opened a market 
for the pine timber, and arrangements have been made to rapidly 
clear and open the lands to intending settlers. Eastman is the 
county town of Dodge county, and has a promising basis for 
future growth. For ten miles east and west up and down the 
railroad, and for fifteen miles north to the Oconee river, and 
fifteen miles south to the Ocmulgee river, lies a region of beauti- 
fully undulating or rolling prairie land, well watered with springs 
and small clear streams, embracing several hundred thousand 
acres, all of which is commercially tributary to this rising town. 
Within the next ten years one-half of this territory should be 
under the control of the farmer, and furnish traffic enough to 
support a town of several thousand inhabitants. The location 
of the town from a sanitar}' point of view is probably unsur- 
passed by any town in the Southern States. Situated from 500 
to 600 feet above the level of the sea, on ground marked by in- 
equalities of surface sufficient to provide ample drainage without 
being either hilly or level, with water unusually pure and good, 
and a climate free from sudden changes of moisture and temper- 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 32 

ature, it is especially adapted for those who are suffering irom 
bronchial or pulmonary affections, and is considered one of the 
healthiest places for residence in the United States. 

By the advice of distinguished physicians and well-known 
hotel proprietors, a company of gentlemen have here located one 
of the most attractive hotels in the South, with accommodations 
for over 100 guests, and an addition soon to be made to accom- 
modate as many more. 

The beautiful grounds, containing about 10 acres, are divided 
by the railroad from the city park ; on which, embowered in 
trees, stands the stately court-house, built at a cost of some 
$20,000, and a gift to the county from the Hon. William E. 
Dodge, of New York city. These grounds united form a fitting 
center to the town. Avenues to the number of eight are laid 
out at right angles from the railroad, while parallel with the rail- 
road are other streets, named from the native forest trees. 

The village already contains a dozen or more stores, a wagon- 
factory, turpentine-still, two considerable saw-mills, and two or 
three well-kept boarding-houses, where invalids and other comers 
may secure cheaper board than at the hotel. 

The Eastman High School building is prettily situated on the 
fifth avenue, and has from 50 to 70 scholars. Mr. Harrison, a 
teacher of some note in the State, of liberal education and cul- 
ture, and a Christian gentleman, has charge of the school, and it 
is all one could desire for a new place. The Methodist, Baptist, 
and Presbyterian denominations have regular services, and a 
Union Sunday School, with over 100 on its rolls, is one of the 
principal attractions on Sunday. The village is governed by a 
mayor and four aldermen. The authorities have planted trees 
along some of the principal avenues, and efforts are made to 
keep the streets in good order. The land for a mile in each di- 
rection from the court-house square has been laid out under the 
supervision of Mr. Ayres, of Macon, and the utmost advantage 
has been taken of all the natural beauties of the landscape. The 
main roads from the town wind around the elevations, furnishing 
large numbers of desirable sites for villas and cottages. Village 
lots, or plots of from i to 5 acres, can be purchased at reasona- 
ble prices, as shown upon the map of the town. 

The west end of the town is beautified by the residences of 
Judge Bishop, Wright Harrel, Esq., and others, and by the ele- 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. *33 

gant residence of Hon. William Pitt Eastman, from whom the 
town takes its name. The last, situated upon a rising knoll, in 
the midst of 60 acres of grounds, with ample lawn, flower gar- 
dens, fruit and shade trees, and with extensive outbuildings, 
would be considered a beautiful home anywhere on the Hudson 
or in New England. 

For particulars as to the hotel, etc., we refer to article below. 

The country about Eastman is slightly rolling, with plenty of 
drainage. The soil is a sandy loam, and with proper cultivation 
and treatment, is susceptible of great fertility. The subsoil is 
clay, strongly impregnated with lime. Experiment has proved 
that by gradually mixing this subsoil with the top soil, the crops 
are greatly benefited. Mr. Eastman has produced a bale of cot- 
ton or 62 bushels of corn to the acre. He has experimented 
with sugar-cane, and had a crop of 1,500 gallons of syrup. 
Fruits, vegetables and flowers are raised to perfection. Numer- 
ous farms in the county can be shown intending settlers, which 
will this year average from 30 to 50 bushels of corn per acre, and 
a bale of cotton to the acre ; from 200 to 500 bushels of sweet 
potatoes (the delicious yam of the South, far more palatable and 
nutritious than the Irish potato), and from 50 to 100 bushels of 
the Irish potato have been raised to the acre. Turnips yield 
several hundred bushels per acre, and hundreds of gallons of 
syrup are frequently made from an acre of sugar-cane. Field- 
peas, the clover of the South, oats, rye, and various kinds of millet 
are certain and most prolific crops. 

The railroad company is offering unusual facilities and encour- 
agement in freights for the production of early vegetables and 
melons, and market gardeners can compete successfully with 
Florida and other points in shipments to the West. 

Strawberries, raspberries and currants grow well, and in the 
season blackberries and wliortleberries are daily brought to the 
village market bv the children, affording an abundant supply. 

Grapes grow wild in great abundance throughout this region, 
and the prediction is often made, that in time, this sunny land 
will vie with the best portions of France and Italy, in grape-cul- 
ture. This region has long been known as favorable for stock- 
raising, on account of the universal profusion of native grass 
throughout the pine forest lands. In the spring and early sum- 
mer, the miles of English -park-like land, free from undergrowth, 



34» SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

is covered with a young and tender grass, and as far as the eye 
can reach, presents a beautiful appearance, and affords the most 
desirable pasturage for cattle and sheep. 

Hundreds of thousands of stock are now owned in this and 
the adjoining counties, and are very profitable to their owners. 
With proper care, there is room for ten where how there is one, 
and with herds and flocks carefully shepherded as in other coun- 
tries, the injury from dogs and other enemies would be greatly 
lessened. Wool is probably the most profitable product of this 
section ; a number of residents are owners of flocks of sheep of 
several hundred each, producing from 2 to 4 pounds of wool per 
head, and the whole cost to the owners is the trouble of driving 
them up annually, shearing them, and marking the lambs. A 
little care and attention would much improve the breeds of both 
sheep and cattle. Cattle are constantly sold at fair prices for Sa- 
vannah and the sea-board markets. Sheep-raising will return a 
dividend of from 60 to 70 per cent, annually on the outlay. 

No effort has been made to regularly feed and fatten hogs for 
market, though thousands upon thousands of half-wild pigs live 
and roam the woods without care, and furnish meat to the farm- 
ers. With half the care taken in Ohio, Tennessee, and other 
States, pork-packing could be made profitable ; so also could the 
business of raising goats, and furnishing Eastern dealers with kid 
skins, which are in great demand. After visiting almost all parts 
of the West, Canada, Australia and South America, a resident 
here says that with ordinary industry, no part of the world pre- 
sents a fairer field for the intending emigrant. 

It is pre-eminently the country for men of moderate means to 
come to. For eight months in the year, the climate is the superb 
climate of the South of France and Northern Italy. Hundreds 
of days are like the best days of October and early June in the 
North, when with the balmy breezes and clear skies, it is simply 
a pleasure to live. 

Northern people talk of Eastern and Middle Georgia as if it 
was under the equator, but even the four hottest months of sum- 
mer are not more trying to the Anglo-Saxon than the same 
months in New York or even Canada. As fine specimens of 
men physically can be produced from this region as from any 
part of the United States. Not one-half the real labor is here 
required for a comfortable support as in the North and Canada, 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 35 

where people struggle all summer to supply food and warmth 
for the long winters. Here their time and thoughts can be given 
to gaining a surplus, and to comfort and culture. Many South- 
ern persons now believe if it had not been for the peculiar insti- 
tution of the South, Middle and Western Georgia, Tennessee, 
Kentucky, Northern Alabama and Arkansas would have been to- 
day the richest, happiest and most populous part of America. 
Most native persons here begin to realize this, and after years of 
residence in the South since the war, the writer of this article, 
who is a Northern man, has yet to hear the first man wish this 
peculiar institution back. Notwithstanding the wicked bowlings 
of interested politicians, I affirm that emigrants from all parts of 
the world, who honestly desire to take part in the development 
of the vast future wealth of this section of our common country, 
will be welcomed with warm-hearted Southern courtesy and kind- 
ness. 

This is especially true in the case of the new colonies in Dodge 
county. In the town of Eastman, one-third of the people are 
from the North, and the most cordial feeling exists between them 
and the older citizens. 

A favorable feature in the culture of the soil in this county is 
the ease with which it can be plowed and worked. Two or three 
acres can be cultivated with as little manual labor as one acre of 
stiff clayey or heavy bottom lands, and thus the results of toil 
are as great in quantity produced as on the best bottom lands. 
The contrast with lands in the West and Texas, where corn is 
worth only 15 to 20 cents per bushel, so far from market that 
transportation consumes the life of the farm and farmer, is 
marked. Here corn isselhng freely at $1 per bushel, and within 
100 to 150 miles to the Atlantic coast, this locality has the benefit 
of the best market and prices. 

In the heart of Georgia, one of the old thirteen States, Dodge, 
Telfair, Montgomery, Pulaski, Laurens, and their adjoining coun- 
ties, offer home privileges and opportunities that few, if any, of 
the Western States can give. 

Lands can now be bought as cheap as in Texas or the West, 
and the country once fairly populated, farms now bought must 
ere many years double and treble in value. 

There are in this vicinity, along the line of the railroad, six 
other towns. 



36 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Lumber Citj^, or Station No. 9, Macon and Brunswick Rail- 
road, is the site of a considerable timber traffic, near the junction 
of the three rivers, and a promising place. Numbers of fine bot- 
tom-land farms can be had near this place. The mail for Jack- 
sonville, the former county town of Telfair, goes from here, dis- 
tance eight miles. 

Towns, or Station No. 10, M. & B. R. R., is a village with a 
saw-mill, grist-mill, turpentifie works, and several stores. Within 
one and a half miles from the station is the Clemens Institute, a 
seminary under the auspices of the Methodist Church, where 
over 100 students have excellent opportunities for obtaining an 
education. The seminary building is surrounded by twenty or 
more cottages and boarding-houses. 

McVille, or Station No. io>^, is one of the best business centers 
in the region, with turpentine works, and several busy stores and 
shops. It is pleasantly situated, and likely to become a consid- 
erable place. 

McRae, or Station No. 11, is the county seat of Telfair county, 
the most populous county in this part of Georgia. It has many 
excellent farms, and is largely settled by good old Scotch stock. 
McRae has an excellent farming country around it, now just being 
opened by the axe of the timber-cutters. The place contains two 
public houses, court-house, shops and stores, and during court- 
week is full of life. 

Cliauncey, or No. 12, M. & B. R. R., is named after the late 
William Chauncey, Esq., of New York city, one of the oldest and 
best merchants of that city, who was largely interested in pine 
lands near the town, and whose family will be interested in the 
growth of a village here. There are now four or five stores here, 
and the extensive shingle-mill of Sumner & Mullen. Enterprising 
turpentine men from North Carolina have secured 3,000 acres of 
choice lands, and are erecting extensive works for the manufac- 
ture of naval stores at Maunds, No. 11 j4, M. & B. R. R. 

The Georgia Land and Lumber Company, of New York city, 
Hon. W. E. Dodge, President, for whom the county is named, 
has its headquarters at Eastman. This company controls from 
300,000 to 400,000 acres of choice lands, and is preparing rapidly 
to get its lands into market. Within the last year or two it has 
commenced extensive lumbering operations on its lands, and is 
offering excellent opportunities to immigrants who are used to 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. T^'] 

the axe, who may desire contracts for hauling, or who have farm 
produce to sell. It has invested within the last year $80,000 in 
the finest saw-mill on the coast, at St. Simon's Island, the timber 
supply for which must come from these lands. Settlers, while 
preparing homes and farms, probably can obtain work at fair 
wages in their lumber camps, or could pay for their farms by the 
delivery of timber on the raih'oad. 

This company has prepared and ready for sale at low rates, ten 
excellent farms, near the towns and railroad. These farms have 
from 10 to 50 acres under cultivation, are neatly fenced, and pro- 
vided with an excellent farm-house (of several rooms), painted 
white, with green bhnds, on each place. Very advantageous 
terms will be made to the right kind of settlers, to induce them 
to come among us, and these homes will prove very attractive to 
them. Uncleared lands can be had at from $2.00 to $5.00 per 
acre near the railroad, and at cheaper rates farther back ; 50-acre 
farms, with residences as above, with 10 acres cleared and fenced, 
can be purchased at from $600 to $800 each. Payments part 
cash, and the balance on favorable terms. These farms should 
pay for themselves in a few years, besides affording a good sub- 
sistence for a family. Farms can be bought from other parties 
also. Good bottom lands, near the rivers at Lumber City, can 
be had for about $5.00 per acre. Every effort will be made to 
give intending purchasers satisfaction. 

For many reasons, therefore, no part of the South is more 
favorable for those who wish to escape the hardships and rigors 
of less hospitable and colder climates. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



CHAPTER V. - 

Towns and Points of Interest on the Lme of the 
Brunswick and Albany Railroad. 



Brunswick, the terminus of both the Macon and Brunswick 
and Brunswick and Albany roads, having already been described, 
in chapter four, descriptive of points of interest on the line of the 
Macon and Brunswick Railroad, it is only necessary to add that 
there has been since that sketch was written, in 1876, very great 
improvement in business. The lumber and naval store business 
has more than doubled. Seventy new business and dwelling 
houses have been erected since January ist, 1880, and a number 
of new buildings are now in course of erection. Chess, Carley 
& Co., the largest dealers in oils and naval stores in the South> 
have established a branch house and are doing a heavy business, 
which they will rapidly increase. This firm, with A. F. Franklin 
& Co., Forrester & Co., and Duck & Co., are doing a large busi- 
ness in wholesale groceries, hay, grain and ship supplies. New 
merchants are coming in, and the lumber and naval store busi- 
ness for this year will beat last 20 per cent, higher than a table 
of exports elsewhere given (see tabular statement) shows for 1880. 
There have been as many as sixty-six vessels in port at one time 
this year loading with lumber and naval stores. The Macon and 
Brunswick Railroad Company are rapidly completing deep water 
wharves, and the Brunswick and Albany Railroad is contemplat- 
ing improvements of like character. The cotton season has 
opened with considerable shipments. Col. Schlatter, whose re- 
lations to the Brunswick and Albany Railroad are the same as 
Maj. Haines.' relation to the Savannah, Florida and Western, who 
has watched over this road for over 25 years with unswerving 
fidelity to its interests, and to the interests of Brunswick, and 
whose careful management has made the sale to the Elanger- 
Seligman Syndicates a fact, and insured a bright future for Bruns- 
wick, with his assistant, Mr. Meador, an able railroad officer, is 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 39 

sure to make of Brunswick in the next five years a terminus 
worthy of the great through route to the Pacific which Mr, 
Wolffe's genius has cemented together out of detached portions 
of the road, and Brunswick and Savannah the Georgia outlets of 
four great systems of Western railway communication, will grow 
and prosper in generous rivalry, each having enough to do. 
There are a large number of Northern men engaged in business 
in Brunswick, all of whom are doing well. St. Simon's mills, on 
the island of that name, eight miles from Brunswick, is the largest 
on the coast, and saws as high as a half million feet of lumber 
per week. It is owned by Dodge, Meigs & Co., of New York, 
and managed by Warren A. Fuller, a Northern marf, from whom 
a letter written years ago appears in this book, (see chapter 8); 
Cook Brothers & Co., a firm of Northern men, also operate a 
mill for the manufacture of lumber in Brunswick. J. Wilder, 
Esq., has an 8,000 acre turpentine farm near Brunswick and is 
doing a heavy business. Jamaica, 12 miles from Brunswick, is 
the depot from which Hon. J. W. Tison, our late Senator, and 
.his neighbors get their goods. He is one of the heaviest cattle 
owners and most successful agriculturalists in the State. At 
Waynesville, 23 miles from Brunswick, which boasts a splendid 
Sulphur spring, and is a delightful summer resort, there are three 
turpentine farms owned by J. H. Allison, Covington & Gleason 
and B. Barnes. Some distance above Mr. Buck has an extensive 
turpentine farm. Still further up the Brunswick and Albany 
road, at Nahunter, Messrs. Burbage & Leary have a fine turpen- 
tine farm, and at Hoboken, in Pierce county, W. E. Burbage has 
another turpentine farm. At the crossing of the Satilla river in 
Wayne county, Prentice & Son, from Michigan, have a fine mill, 
procuring their logs by rafting on the river, and by purchase. 
Reppard & Walters had a fine mill at Dixonia, in a body of tim- 
ber of about 150,000 acres, which was destroyed by fire in July 
last. This was the largest mill on any of the lines of road, and 
was ably managed by probably the ablest mill manager in the State, 
Nicholas Dixon, Esq. The company, with their usual energy and 
promptness, have put the loss behind them and are building a 
still larger mill near Waycross, the rapid completion of which is 
insured by the fact that Dixon is in charge of the work. Upland 
rice yields largely along this Hne of road, as it does indeed all 
through South Georgia, and is cultivated for profit. Joseph A. 



40 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Baker & Co., are largely engaged in the manufacture of naval 
stores at Schlatterville, 50 miles from Brunswick, and W. F. 
Bailey has a fine steam saw mill and is doing a good business. 
These are the industries outside of agriculture between Waycross 
and Brunswick. As the name implies, Waycross, the county 
seat of Ware county, is the point where the Savannah, Florida 
arid Western and Brunswick and Albany roads cross each other, 
and although laid out as late as 1872 has a population of about 
700 and is rapidly growing. Healthily situated and easy of 
access, it has already attracted a number of settlers from New 
Jersey. More are coming, and it is destined to become a thriving 
town, an educational center, and a resort for invalids and 
tourists. 

Waresboro, on the line of the Brunswick and Albany Rail- 
road, was formerly the county seat of Ware county, is the center 
of a thriving agricultural settlement, and sells many goods. J. C. 
McDonald & Co. have a fine mill at Red Bluff, and in common 
with all other mill men are making money. Space and want of 
dates forbids that we should refer to all the locations and busi- 
ness enterprises, from Waresboro to Albany, and we therefore 
next notice Rosendale, which is 108 miles from Brunswick, Here 
Saturn & Bro. have a turpentine farm of 30 crops, including the 
crops of neighbors. They employ 75 hands, have finely tim- 
bered lands, 6,000 to 7,000 acres tapped, the yield good. The 
Alapaha river is crossed at the 109, crops are green and growing, 
and a general air of promise and prosperity pervades the place. 



BERRIEN COUNTY. 



Alapaha, 112 miles from Brunswick, is a lively and business- 
like little village. It has six stores with mixed stocks, and three 
bar-rooms ; the aggregate sales reach about $100,000 per annum ; 
they have two physicians, two lawyers and one dentist. The 
population is three hundred. It has also a sprightly weekly 
newspaper, the Berrien County News, W. H. Lastinger editor 
and proprietor, who "hews to the line" and is clearing the way 
for settling and building up one of the finest sections of the State. 
He is putting in some good strokes for the development of the 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 4 1 

country. There is considerable trade here, some heavy stocks, 
and the people enjoy the advantages of post, exp. ess and tele- 
graph offices. Berrien is regarded the best agricultural county 
on the line of this road. The lands are rolling, free from saw 
palmetto, easily cleared and cultivated, and highly productive. 
Sheep raising is successful and profitable here, and the pasturage 
being rich and ample but little labor and expense is involved 
beyond watching the sheep. The winters are so mild that shelter 
is scarcely needed. Wool is always in demand, at remunerative 
prices, and to many of the land owners along this route is a rich 
source of revenue. The culture of high land rice is attracting 
considerable interest here ; it is a paying crop, and the planters 
are increasing the average of rice each year. Bee culture is also 
profitably carried on ; the honey is as rich and pure as that from 
California. The writer has paid here in city drug stores in South- 
ern Georgia as much for four ounces of honey from Los 'Angelos 
as was charged at that time for a gallon of honey made here in 
our own fields and forests — ours being equally as good for table 
and medicinal purposes. 

This is a land of promise, a place of refuge for all strangers 
with pulmonary affections. Consumption ajmong the natives is 
almost unknown. But here the wearied invalid from Northern 
lands finds the odorous pine forests freighted with healing balm 
in every breath, with broad acres of peach orchards producing 
the brandy which mixed with honey is known to be a cure for 
diseased lungs. Given the mild climate, the dry atmosphere, the 
bright sunshine, the gentle breezes, the pure water, the resinous 
odors, peach and honey, fat beef and mutton, and the chances are 
largely in favor of the cure of pulmonary affections. In sight of 
the railroad there is but little cotton growing ; other products are 
found as profitable and less laborious. Agriculture and horticul- 
ture are progressive. We heard, in passing through Ware 
county, of an orange tree at Mr. Styles Murray's home which 
bore seven hundred oranges last year. It is not an old tree, but 
our informer could not be exact as to its age. Orange groves 
would be valuable here. The tree flourishes and produces abund- 
antly the whole length of the road, and even at this end, in 
Albany, is rarely injured by frost. The labor and expense of 
sheltering them is but trifling, compared with the monied value 
of the trees. The scuppernong grape vine flourishes in all 



42 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

his country. The yield of grapes is large and unfailing. The 
writer has been familiar with grape culture from childhood, and 
from North Carolina to Florida has never seen a diseased scup- 
pernong vine. The wine of this grape is the most delicious of 
all domestic wines, and has fine medicinal properties. 

Fruit in great variety grows in perfection in Berrien county. 
Peaches, apples, pears, quinces, grapes, oranges, figs, cherries 
and various kinds of berries grow side by side, while the melons 
are exceptionally fine. 

The finest water-power in this region of country is in Berrien 
county, one mile from the beautiful little village of Milltown, about 
twenty miles from the line of the Brunswick and Albany railroad 
and fourteen miles from the Savannah, Florida and Western rail- 
road. Milltown, by the way, is a most desirable place. It is 
situated on a high, dry, sandy knoll, shaded with oaks; has pure 
freestone water, good society, churches and schools. 

At the 115 mile post F. F. Woodburn has a turpentine farm. 
This is the first year of working it. They have twenty crops, and 
6,000 acres of virgin forest, except what is tapped for turpentine, 
Their postofiice is Enigma, at the 117 mile-post, where J. W. 
Ball & Co. have a turpentine farm in its second year. They have 
thirty crops and 5,000 acres of finely timbered lands. 

At Brookfleld, 122, Mr. Wood has a turpentine farm of thirty 
crops. Here are four stores, a postoffice, and a small village. 
These lands are rolling and elevated ; the timber well cut away, 
the farms productive. Rice is successfully grown here; sheep 
husbandry is remunerative, and bees a source of large profit- 
Corn, potatoes, and small grains thrive, and the people can live, 
and live well, at home. It has been said of Berrien county that 
if a Chinese wall surrounded it the people would be comfortably 
independent of the outside world. 

Vanceville, at the 125 mile-post, is a new and bright looking 
Httle settlement. Here Furlong Bros, have a sawmill which cuts 
15,000 feet of lumber per day. They have a tramway started, 
the engine and iron on the ground. The country is rolling and 
beautiful. There are many lovely building sites on this road- 
Nature has made them beautiful, and in a few short years our 
eyes may be permitted to see beautiful gardens, vineyards and 
orchards, where now the wiregrass flourishes. Lawrence & Guest 
have here a turpentine farm. Vanceville is their pos* office. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 43 

They run twenty crops. Mayo & Sons have also a turpentine 
farm of twenty crops. 

Tifton. H. H. Tift is at the head of this larg^e estabhshment. 
Seventy-five hands are employed and the mill cuts 18,000 feet 
per day, or about eighty logs. They run seven four-mule 
teams. This mill has already used the mill timber from 15,000 
acres and the firm has 75,000 yet to cut. They have a steam 
tramway five miles long, and a store the sales of which amount 
to about $20,000 annually. They have also a stave mill and a 
planing mill. 

Brown's Mill, at 133 mile-post, is owned by W. J. Brown. It 
cuts 10,000 feet per day. He has also a store. Here B. C. 
Hutchins has a turpentine farm of fourteen crops. It is entirely 
new, this being the first year. 

Then comes Ty-Ty swamp and Little River, the head-waters 
of the Suwannee river, which form the line between Berrien and 
Worth counties. 

Hillsdale, at the 137 mile-post, is the first turpentine farm on 
the road in Worth county. Here E. Haley has twenty crops. 
At Hillsdale Mr. T. S. Graves has a large establishment. The 
mill cuts 20,000 feet of lumber per day. Other data could not 
be obtained at this point. Mr. Graves is a gentleman of businesss 
habits and fine intelligence and will no doubt furnish any infor- 
mation that may be desired. 

Ty-Ty, at 139, has a postoffice and express office, six stores 
with general stocks, and two turpentine distilleries. Coleman & 
Bishop' have a turpentine farm which runs twenty-two crops, 
employs thirty-eight hands, and has 3,000 acres of finely timbered 
land. W. E. Williams also has a turpentine farm of eighteen 
crops. 

Here they have a pleasant little village of two or three dozen 
families. They have a good school and have the building mate- 
rial for a Methodist church. The crops look well and promising. 

At Cyms, 142, are the MagnoHa Mills, owned by Messrs. Moss 
& Graves. The capacity is 20,000 feet of lumber per day. This 
is a fine rolling country, good lands, susceptible of a high degree 
of cultivation. Corn, rice, sugar cane, small grain, potatoes, and 
every desirable crop that can be raised in this latitude does well 
here ; and here let me remark that, though late in mentioning it, 
sugar cane is a valuable and profitable crop all along this line of 



44 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

road. The farmers make syrup and sugar in abundance, and of 
excellent quality, and it can generally be bought at reasonable 
prices. The syrup these South Georgians sell at 30 or 40 cents 
per gallon is far superior to the beautiful chemical syrups we call 
golden and silver drip, and for which we pay 80 and 90 cents a 
gallon. It is clean, free, and wholesome, and to our taste far 
preferable to these adulterated foreign mixtures. 

Sumner, is at the 145 mile-post. Here C. A. Alford has a 
turpentine farm of thirty crops, a steam planing and grist mill, 
and a store. A. J. Alford also has a store here. It is a nice 
little village containing in all four stores. We wished to obtain 
further information in regard to water mill and sheep farm, and 
we heard something of a wool factory in Colquitt on the Ocloco- 
nee, but could not learn anything definite. 

Weston & Co. have a huge mill at 146. 

At Poulavia, 149, they have a store, two turpentine farms and 
distilleries. JVIcFall & Co. run thirty-five crops. They are 
enterprising men and do a large business. 

Isabella has a good depot and side track, a postoffice and 
express office. 

At 152 Mr. Williamson has a fine turpentine farm. 

Albany has already been described in an account of Points of 
Interest on the line of the Savannah, Florida and Western road, 
(see chapter 3) but the large business it now does, as detailed 
there, will be largely increased when the Brunswick and Albany 
road- com pit tes its branch to Columbus and its extension to 
Selma. There is no finer agricultural region in Georgia than in 
and around Albany, and in the next ten years there is every 
reason to hope it will double or treble its population and wealth. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 45 



CHAPTER VI. 

A DescHption of Pierce County, Written for the 
Waycross Reporter. 



We embody this sketch entire because Wayne county is natu- 
rally a fair sample of the pine woods country along our lines of 
road. The timber has been cut closer than in most counties, and 
the people have turned their attention to agricultural pursuits, 
with results that may be attained in any county on the three lines 
of road, and has been attained in some which we have no space to 
describe. There are sketches of other counties which will be 
published in the Reporter and distributed during the Exposition. 

PIERCE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHED. 

A BANNER COUNTY — SELF-SUSTAINING AND PROSPEROUS — ALL 
INTERESTS AND INDUSTRIES CONSIDERED. 

Pierce is a neat little political division carved out of the old 
counties of Appling, Wayne and Ware, and is claimed by its en- 
terprising inhabitants to be the " banner county" of that portion 
of the Y^^iregrass domain designated as Southern Georgia, and in 
some essential respects they maintain their boast with gratifying 
proofs. 

The county is most favorably situated, and has important nat- 
ural advantages as well as abundant railroad facilities. It is 
nearly centrally traversed by the Savannah, Florida and Western 
Railway, while the southwest corner is traversed by the Way- 
cross and Jacksonville Railroad, and its southern portion by the 
Brunswick and Albany Railroad. The Satilla river skirts its 
western border, dividing it from Ware county for about twenty 
miles, and then bends to the eastward towards the center of the 
county, forming a junction with the Alapaha river, near the south- 
ern boundary. This stream runs through ^ heavily timbered belt 
and is navigable for rafting. The Alapaha is a small river, and 
only open for rafting for a few miles. There are quite a number 
of creeks and some valuable water power in the county. These 



46 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

creeks and rivers furnish a never-failing water supply for stock, 
while pure, sweet water for all other wants is found everywhere at 
a depth of from ten to twenty feet. The soils are light, sandy and 
poor in the northwestern portion bordering the Satilla ; loose, 
dark, flat and generously productive east of the Alapaha, and a 
reddish clayey soil, mixed with dark reddish gravel in the gently 
rolling pine fields of the center, extending north and south nearly 
the entire length of the county. This portion of the county is 
remarkably productive, and is admirably adapted to horticulture, 
as well as to the production of corn, oats, rice, sugar cane, pota- 
toes, and black seed or long staple cotton. Here, too, the peach, 
the pear, the apple, plum, cherry, pecan, quince, fig, mulberry, 
sand pear, scuppernong, and all the varieties of grapes, grow 
most luxuriantly and to great perfection. The other portions of 
the county are scarcely less remunerative in these products, when 
the proper care and labor are bestowed. 

At the eighty-seven mile post on the Savannah, Florida and 
Western Railroad, on an elevated plane, stretching across this 
gravel formation, is situated the beautiful and flourishing litde 
village of 

BLACKSHEAR, 

the county site and the pride of every man, woman and child in 
the county. It contains a population of about eight hundred, 
mostly whites, and is one of the most prosperous villages on the 
line of this great iron highway. Its merchants are men of enter- 
prise, and stand high in commercial circles. They have a good 
country trade and are enjoying the fruits of legitimate traffic and 
honest industry. The twelve business houses of the place aggre- 
gate annual sales of a minimum of $200,000, and their loss, by 
non-paying customers, was last year less than two per cent. 

Mr. B. D. Brantley, who has accumulated a handsome fortune 
since the war, is probably the largest dealer. He sells about forty 
thousand. J. W. Strickland also commenced poor, and now has 
a comfortable competency — selling about thirty thousand annu- 
ally. Mr. A. N. Smith commenced some years later, and now 
sells twenty thousand. He also commenced at the bottom, and 
is now independent and nearly happy. Dr. H. J. Smith, a Mexi- 
can veteran, and a comrade of the writer, takes the world easy, 
and, though the possessor of a fine estate, is content with selling 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 47 

twelve to fifteen thousand a year. His son, Dr. C. H. Smith, does 
a business of eight to ten thousand, and has beside a lucrative 
practice. Messrs. Jas. A. Harper, R. C. Cannon, Sr S. Carter, 
M. M. Cohen, R. W. Carpenter, E. J. Acosta, and a few others 
complete the list, and are all men of energy and business integrity, 

THE BROWN HOUSE 

is a handsome, well kept hotel, capable of accommodating fifty 
guests. It is presided over by Mrs. Allen Brown, the estimable 
wife of Dr. Allen Brown, a dentist of high reputation. 

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. 

There are six churches in Blackshear, three white and three 
colored. The whites have a Baptist, a Methodist, and a Presby- 
terian church ; the colored people one Baptist and two Methodist 
churches. 

The white people have an academy and two private schools, 
neither of which was reported as being well attended. When 
will the parents of this once benighted and still bedarkened region 
wake up to the importance and the duty of educating their chil- 
dren ? The colored school was reported as being admirably con- 
ducted and largely attended. 

One newspaper, the News, a small weekly, conducted by Mr. 
Bird. A good medium for advertising in the county, but is mod- 
est in its pretension and circumscribed in its enterprise. 

There are two Masonic lodges in the village, one of which has 
colored memberships only. 

INDUSTRIES. 

Mr. E. B. Coates has a wood and blacksmith shop, where he 
manufactures wagons and buggies and does town work generally. 
This and a small steam grist mill and turpentine distillery com- 
prise the mechanical and manufacturing industries. 

The court house is a wooden building, very neat and suffi- 
ciently commodious for the business of the county. 

There is no Jail in the county. To an inquiry, Enoch Hendry, 
replied : "We never have any prisoners ; when we closed the 
liquor shops we burnt the jail." "What ? You have no liquor 
shops in Pierce county ?" "Not one ; we put the license up to 



48 SOUTHERN GEORCilA. 

$1,500, and the boys sold out and quit. Since then crime has 
nearly disappeared, and we have no use for a jail." 

MATERIAL STATISTICS. 

Population: 1868, 1,973; 1870, 2,778; 1880, 4,500. Polls: 1868, 
450; 1880, 819. Taxable valuables: i860, $160,000; 1868, $260,- 
400; 1880, $544,283. The county tax last year was 100 per cent, 
on the State tax, making seven-tenths of one per cent, in all. 
Being- now out of debt and having a surplus of $733 in the Treas- 
ury, there will be no occasion this year to levy a greater tax than 
six-tenths of the State tax. The insolvent list for 1880 shows but 
$3.60. 

It is upon this rapid increase of population and wealth and 
the general prosperity of the people that the claim of "banner 
county" is based, and it is hardly probable that a larger percent- 
age of increase will be found in the statistics of any other county 
in the wiregrass country. 

There is still some game in the county, and hunters seldom 
fail to get venison. The watercourses abound in fish of many 
varieties, and it is not doubted that the German carp would flour- 
ish in the same waters. 

There are only eleven professional men in Pierce, which proves 
that litigation and sickness give the people but little concern. 

The climate is salubrious, and the temperature equable all the 
year round. Out-door labor may be carried on every day in the 
year, it being neither too cold in winter nor too hot in summer 
The atmosphere is dry, highly rarified, and lung diseases are un- 
known among the natives. 

TURPENTINE FARMS. 

This has grown to be a vast interest in Georgia, and the turpen- 
tine farmers of the Carolinas are still seeking eligible fields for op- 
erations in our pine forests. They already cover large areas, and 
the industry is not likely to slacken till the pine is exhausted. A 
crop is 10,000 boxes. The trees average two boxes. Tapping is 
the cutting of the tree at the base. The lands will average two 
and one-half to three crops to the lot of 490 acres, or about thirty 
trees to the acre. 

Mr. B. D. Brantley, Blackshear, has a distillery. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 49 

J. W. Strickland, five miles east of Blackshear, on the Savannah, 
Florida and Western Railway, owns 4,500 acres, runs eighteen 
crops (180,000 boxes) with thirty-five hands. 

John W. Carter, four miles east of Patterson, on the same road. 

A. J. Lee & Bro., also east of Blackshear. 

Wash Watson, colored, two miles west of Blackshear, on same 
road, taps 2,500 acres and runs ten crops. 

Joseph A. Baker & Co., at Schlatterville, on the Brunswick and 
Albany Railroad, have exhausted 14,000 acres, and now run ten 
crops on about 2,000 acres, with twenty hands. 

MILLING INTEREST. 

Mr. J. Y. Colcord has a magnificent mill on the banks of the 
Satilla at the railroad bridge, and also a stave, lath and shingle 
mill. At this point there is a bold sand bluff, and high ridges 
slope back to level lands. The atmosphere here is dry, and the 
locality is one of the healthiest on the continent. It is called 
Exeter, and a lively little village is springing up around the mills. 
Mr. Colcord, though a Northern man by birth, has been in Geor- 
gia for twenty years, and is one of our most enterprising and suc- 
cessful mill men. This mill has a capacity of 30,000 per day. 
Twenty-five hands are employed in running it. The timber cut 
is drifted down the Satilla from the rich pine forests above. Mr. 
Colcord is his own manager. 

The stave, lath and shingle mill is leased to Mr. C. C. Buchanan, 
who manages the same, and produces 5,000 btaves, 5,000 laths, 
and 5,000 shingles per day. 

Mr. Colcord's success in this business has emboldened him to 
additional enterprises, and he is now establishing a mill on the 
Macon and Brunswick Railroad near Eastman. 

This mill cuts an average of about one hundred trees per day, 
which culls the timber from four acres. There is a post office, a 
store, and a number of cottages at Exeter. 

AGRICULTURE. 

The agricultural interests are in a most flourishing and prosper- 
ous condition. The tillers of the soil have determined to improve 
their methods, and many of them have adopted the modern ap- 
pliances for cultivating and the most approved modes of fertiliz- 



50 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

ing. From Mr. Joseph A. Harper, who took the census, who 
knows every man in the county, and who is perfectly rehable, the 
statement was received that indtistry prevails everywhere, that 
improvement is perceptible on every farm, that the young men 
are taking the lead, and that all are thoroughly self-sustaining. 

Nor are they confining their attention to the production of field 
crops. They are studying and engaging in horticulture and fruit 
• growing to a most gratifying extent. In these branches of indus- 
try many of them are succeeding admirably. In the neighbor- 
hood of Blackshear truck farming is absorbing the attention of 
planters, and a few places were visited that afforded the amplest 
evidence of the capabilities of the soil and its adaption to the 
growth of vegetables and fruits of all kinds. 

This is the home of Hon. John C. Nicholls, ex-Congressman 
from this district, and a superb home he has. Indeed, it is diffi- 
cult to conjecture why a gentleman should desire to leave and 
neglect such a beautiful home and such a princely estate for a 
seat in the American Congress. His fields, and lands, and gar- 
dens, and orchards are artistically planned and in a high state of 
cultivation. He is a lover of fine stock, and has in his stables sev- 
eral beautiful colts. He makes his own fertilizers, and produces 
an average of about 35 bushels of corn per acre, and oats, potatoes 
and everything else in proportion. He has vineyards and young- 
orchards, and has not neglected the LeConte pear. Mr. B. D. 
Brantley has a magnificent estate adjoining Col. Nicholls, and 
having remained at home while the Colonel was away at Wash- 
ington, is somewhat ahead of him in his horticulture and fruit 
growing experiments. He, too, makes his own fertilizers, and 
seldom fails to make forty bushels of corn to the acre, and mil- 
lions of melons. He has fine orchards and many varieties, includ- 
ing the LeConte pear. 

Adjoining Mr. Brantley, Mr. J. M. Shaw, formerly a mill man 
on the Brunswick and Albany Railroad, has a scientific truck 
farm. He plants, fertilizes and cultivates by the card, making his 
own fertilizers, and a more beautiful garden farm is not often seen. 
He has four acres in Irish potatoes, two or three in watermelons, 
as many more in small vegetables, and a large area in fruit trees, 
the LeConte pear having the preference. 

Mr. Shaw commenced this farm last fall, and it now looks as if 
it might have been under the care of a skilled gardener for a de- 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 5 I 

cade. It would be difficult to estimate the value to a community 
of farmers of one such enterprise as this, and the time will come, 
and early, too, when Mr. Shaw will be revered for his example 
and honored for the great lesson he is teaching. 

Mr. Downs, near by, has a model truck farm, but on a smaller 
scale. He was born in the Bahamas, and followed the sea for 
some years. Was residing in Pierce at the opening of the war, 
and entered the Twenty-sixth Georgia, and followed the fortunes 
of the confederacy to Appomatox. Returning penniless, went to 
work for a living, and now, after a few years of hard labor and 
devotion to his truck farm, he shows results that might gladden 
the heart of a king, and is quite as independent as a millionaire. 
Last year, on a measured one-eighth of an acre he made and sold 
^75 worth of cabbages, and then planted the patch in potatoes and 
gathered seventy-two bushels. He adopts the intensive system, 
makes his ground rich, and never fails to get good returns. 

Among the enterprising planters who have been primely in- 
strumental in placing Pierce on its present high plane of prosper- 
ity, may be mentioned Chas. S. Youmans, J. T. McThain, James 
M. Johnson, Ben. C. Davis, Dan R. Johnson, Russell Raulerson, 
Berry Henderson, John Aspinwall, Henry I. Strickland, Mike 
Henderson, Leslie Raulerson, John Donaldson, Martin Sweat, 
Dread Byrd, Thomas Woods, Mrs. Mary Walker (a widow lady), 
A. P. Wade, W. T. Sweat, J. J. Henderson, Joseph Dixon, Joseph 
E. Green, James Brown, James S. Youmans, James A. Waters, 
H. McKeever, J. M. Reynolds. The last two are recent immi- 
. grants from South Carolina. 

Schlatterville, another pretty little village, and thrifty withal, 
adorns their gem of the forest. It is situated on the Brunswick 
and Albany Railroad, forty-nine miles from the city of Bruns- 
wick and ten miles from Waycross. Here are two stores, a post 
office, two churches, a school, a turpentine farm and a steam saw 
mill. Messrs. Lee & Rawles and W. F. Bailey & Co. are the 
mercantile firms, and are doing a very good business. Bailey's 
mill has a capacity of 20,000 feet per day, cuts 20,000 acres, and 
and employs fifty hands, and ships to Brunswick. 

Hoboken is in the southeast corner of Pierce county, and is sit- 
uated on the Brunswick and Albany Railroad, forty-three miles 
from Brunswick. Here Mr. W. E. Burbage has an extensive tur- 
pentine farm, owning and controlling 107 lots of 490 acres each. 



52 . SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

He runs 56 crops, 700,000 boxes, and employs ninety hands. 
Mr. Burbage tapped this farm five years ago, and is therefore 
about ready to turn it over to the axe and the circular saw. He 
has a store and sells a large quantity of merchandise. 

Here also Messrs. Reppard & Walter have recently located a 
mammoth saw mill, and are following the tappers with an army 
of axemen. This mill has a capacity of 50,000 feet of lumber per 

day, works employes, ships to Brunswick, and is regarded 

as one of the leading mills of the country. These gentlemen own 
vast tracts of pine land and a number of mills, and as they will 
come. more prominently to the front next week, when Ware 
county will be heard from, further reference to their minor enter- 
prises is deferred. 

The lands about Hoboken and Schlatterville have been turpen- 
tined and partially denuded by cutting for the mill, but there is 
still a superabundance of timber for all practical and desirable 
purposes. The country along this line is flat, but easily drained 
into the Satilla ; the soil is light, easily cultivated, and responds 
profitably to industry, skillful labor and liberal fertilizing. 

c. w. s. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 53 



CHAPTER VII. 



Articles upon a fezv Special Industrie's, in South 
Georgia, from Way cross Reporter. 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 

At the risk of repeating some statistics already given we quote 
from an official compilation of statistics and facts in relation to 
sheep farming in Georgia, published in 1875, the following: Of 
those who have tested crosses in Georgia 98 per cent, report 
cross of the Spanish Merino and native most profitable. Aver- 
age annual profit on capital invested, 63 per cent. Average total 
annual cost of keeping, 54 cents per head. Average cost of rais- 
ing a pound of wool, six cents. Average price of unwashed 
wool 33 J/^ cents, or 27J/3 cents net profit. An average of 74 
lambs are raised every year for 100 sheep, notwithstanding care- 
less raising, neglect, ravages of dogs, eagles, wild cats, and other 
enemies. Average yield of wool per sheep is 3 44-100 pounds, 
which, at 27^3 cents, gives average clear income per sheep, from 
wool, of 94 cents. Average price of lambs sold the butcher is 
$1.87 per head. Average price of stock sheep, per head, is $2.58. 
Average price of muttons, ^2.75 per head. Dogs are the chief 
enemy of the sheep. There were in Georgia in i860, 512,618 
sheep; in 1870, 419,465 ; in 1875, 319,323, or a decrease in fifteen 
years of 193,295, or 38 per cent. There ,are 99,415 dogs in the 
State. They destroyed between April, 1874, and April, 1875, 
28,265 sheep. Fifteen per cent, of the sheep in the State are 
annually destroyed by dogs ; six per cent, only die by disease and 
other causes. There are thirty-one dogs to every one hundred 
sheep, or nearly one dog to three sheep. They destroy yearly 
28,265 sheep, worth $73,852, or nine per cent, of the value of all 
the sheep in the State. Notwithstanding this loss the annual 
profit is 53 per cent. Remove this cause of loss and the annual 
profit will be 73 per cent. 

One hundred sheep regularly folded will fertilize so as to double 



54 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

the yield of crops eight acres per year, and the present number 
in Georgia would fertilize and double the crop-growing capacity 
of 25.544 acres annually. If that number of acres produced 
without enrichment a half bale of cotton, with such enrichment 
it would produce a bale per acre worth at $50 per bale $538,600. 
If there were two million sheep in Georgia the increased produc- 
tion from enrichment by folding would be $4,000,000 per year. 

The climate of Georgia corresponds with that of the best wool 
growing regions of the world. Spain, once so famous for its Meri- 
no's, is warmer on its southern coast than Southern Georgia. Aus- 
tralia,' now one of the principal wool growing regions of the 
world, embraces the latitude of Georgia; but a maximum tem- 
perature in December, their midsummer month, of 112 degrees 
Fahrenheit. 

In 1810 the export of wool from Australia and Van Demen's 
la»d was 167 pounds. In 1833 it was 3,516,369 pounds. In 1843 
it was 16,226,400 pounds. In 1848 it was 30,034,567 pounds. 
In 1 87 1 the crop of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand was 
168,785,993 pounds. 

The effects of warm climates and their perrenial herbage on 
wool bear a marked analogy to the effect upon vegetation, giving 
increased vigor of growth, length, uniformity and strength of 
fibre, and consequently greater weight to the wool. 

It costs scarcely anything to keep a sheep in Georgia. It costs 
about the value of one of our sheep to winter a sheep in Pennsyl- 
vania, giving to warm climates a decided advantage. 

Listen to a South Georgian : Mr. David Ayers, of Camilla, 
Mitchell county, (a fair sample of Southern Georgia) where the 
original pine forest is carpeted with native grass, says his sheep, 
3,500 in number, cost him annually 14 cents per head; clip three 
pounds per head of unwashed wool, which sells at 30 cents per 
pound, giving a clear profit on the money and labor invested of 
90 per cent. 

Lands suited to sheep and agricultural purposes can be pur- 
chased in Southern Georgia for from 25 cents to $5.00 per acre. 
Mr. Ayers does not feed his sheep at any time during the year, 
nor has he introduced the improved breeds. Of course a cross 
of the Spanish Merino would give better results. His sheep 
receive little care except to be gathered up once a year to be 
sheared and marked. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 55 

Mr. Richard Peters, the leading sheep owner of North Georgia, 
says the cross of Spanish Merino is the best. (Indeed, that is 
the verdict the whole country gives.) 

It is hoped, and believed, that the Legislature will adopt such 
measures as will remove the present obstacles to sheep husbandry 
in Georgia. If this is done thousands of farmers in Georgia will 
at once embark in sheep husbandry, and millions of acres cf 
land now idle, and an expense to their owners, will be rendered 
profitable as sheep walks, and gradually improved in fertility. It 
will open the way for a tide of immigration into Georgia of thou- 
sands of the best, most quiet, peaceable, industrious and profitable 
laborers, who nearly double their number annually, demand no 
wages, do not steal or commit other crimes, labor assiduously 
throughout the year, feed and clothe themselves and their owners, 
make no strikes, utter no complaints, and never "die in debt to 
man." Even their death brings a profit, and they pay 63 per 
cent, on the investment per year. * 

CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

The most remarkable fact developed in the foregoing paper (the 
above are only substantial extracts) is the handsome profit de- 
rived from sheep husbandry in the face of the most adverse cir- 
circumstances. It is a notorious fact that very few of those who 
keep sheep in Georgia pay more attention to them than to mark 
and shear them, except in the northern portion of the State^ 
where they are fed a little in the severe weather of winter. In 
view, too, of the fact that so large a per cent, are annually de- 
stroyed by dogs, the profits under the "let alone" system so 
generally adopted is unparalleled. What other investment will 
declare such dividends under similar circumstances ; we add, 
under any circumstances? 

NATURAL PASTURES. 

There are about 10,000,000 acres of practically unoccupied 
lands in Georgia, nearly all of which might be profitably utilized 
as sheep walks. A vast region in Southeastern and Southern 
Georgia, extending from Savannah to the Chattahoochee rivers, 
is a natural pasture, on which a million sheep could be . raised 
with trifling expense, on the native wire grass which grows up 



56 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

luxuriantly, affording excellent pasturage in summer, and a sub- 
sistence on the underneath, which remains green in winter. The 
most valuable spontaneous grass, however, is the Bermuda, which 
is peculiarly adapted to the purpose of sheep pasturage, forming 
an impenetrable sod of exceedingly nutritious grass, equal to the 
best blue grass pastures of Kentucky, from early spring until 
frost. It will also supply winter pasturage, where partially pro- 
tected by pine trees, under which it remains green the entire 
winter, and is relished by all kinds of stock. A sod of Bermuda 
grass on lands, unprofitable for cultivation, will support five sheep 
per acre for nine months in the year, and the sheep will make the 
land rich. 

The above is a substantial quotation from a manual on sheep 
husbandry published in 1875, by our Agricultural Bureau. No 
compilation of statistics since that time have been made ; but the 
data obtainable in the Comptroller's reports, and in agricultural 
magazines, indicates that there has been a very large increase in 
the number of sheep in the State. Who shall say that this 
manual hns not had an important effect in the right direction? 
It is out of print. We have the only copy obtainable at the 
Agricultural Bureau. Could Commissioner Henderson do a 
nobler work than to re-publish it, with the additions, giving the 
data since 1875? 

Whatever the increase since 1875 for the whole State may be, 
the increase in Southern Georgia has been very great, as demon- 
strated by the increase of the sale of wool at Alapaha, Albany, 
Brunswick and Savannah, which has nearly doubled, and yet 
there is not one sheep in Georgia where one thousand could be 
profitably raised. 

You may travel on our lines of road for hundreds of miles and 
it is the rarest of occurrences to see a flock or even a bunch of 
sheep. 

The statistics and facts above given furnish food for thought 
to the South Georgian, to all who are thinking of a change of 
location and a profitable investment of capital from other States. 

The statistics from the whole State do not begin to show all 
the special advantages for sheep husbandry of Southern Georgia. 
It will be noticed that the average cost of keeping a sheep for the 
State is 58 cents per head. In Southern Georgia by Mr. Ayers 
figures but 14 cents. It is believed that the loss from dogs is 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 57 

nothing like as great in Southern Georgia as it is in other portions 
of the State. 

SPECIAL ADVANTAGES OF SOUTH GEORGIA. 

South Georgia does not suffer so much from drouths as other 
portions of the State. Her wiregrass and Bermuda, growing 
under trees, does not suffer from heat and drouth as in the 
open fields of older communities, where lands have been almost 
denuded of timber. Her vast forests offer refreshing shade 
to the sheep patiently bearing its heavy lo.ad of wool. The 
whole country is threaded by rivers and creeks and perrenniaj 
springs, furnishing ample water. The burrs which in many sec- 
tions of the country get in the wool and injure it, necessitating 
tearing of the fibre to get rid of them, are not found with us. 
Our pasturage is what may properly be called a clean one. It is 
grass, and nothing but grass, for hundreds of miles. We never 
have snow to cover the vegetation and prevent the sheep from 
securing a supply of feed the year round. Our climate is mild in 
winter, and is still more mild than it otherwise would be by rea- 
son of the breeze from the ocean and the vast forests of pine. 
Our climate is healthy both for man and beast. Our sheep re- 
quire little care in winter, escaping all the vicissitudes of a cold 
climate, the thousand and one diseases that a cold climate brings, 
the loss of tender young lambs, etc. 

We are not obliged to house and care for our sheep in winter 
as in the great sheep States of the North, or to drive them hun- 
dreds of miles to the mountains during the dry season, as in 
California; and yet, with all these drawbacks, Ohio, Pennsyl- 
vania and New York in the North, California, on the Pacific, 
Missouri, in the West, all make heavy profits from sheep hus- 
bandry. 

We challenge the production of a man in Southern Georgia 
who has a bunch of sheep or flock who has not made money out 
of them, and who has not made it easier than he could in any 
other occupation whatever. 

We announce what may seem startling propositions, but are 
prepared to prove them : 

ist. That Southern Georgia will readily support at once one 
million sheep, and in ten years two million. That for every 1,000 
sheep pastured per year, the capacity of the land to support 



58 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

sheep can be increased so that 365 more can be raised to the 
thousand the next. 

2nd. That one million sheep will double the crop-bearing 
capacity of 75,000 acres of land per year, and that in twenty 
years a million sheep would make of South Georgia the richest 
agricultural portion of the State. 

3rd. That two million sheep would increase the productiveness 
of our lands by combining sheep husbandry with farming $4,000,- 
000 per year. 

4th. That the capital invested in one million sheep would be 
$2,580,000, and that it would bring yearly a net profit of not less 
than $1,548,000, or 60 per cent., and in Southern Georgia prob- 
ably at least 15 per cent, in excess of this, and that this is true of 
sheep farming, as at present conducted, without care, without 
effort, without protection of the sheep from their enemies, with- 
out folding, without combining sheep husbandry and agriculture, 
which would double the profit here estimated. 

This estimate is based on hard facts and figures obtained by 
patient enquiry from all portions of the State — obtained not upon 
what can be done, but what has been done ; not based on figures 
from other States, but based solely upon figures obtained in 
Georgia from men actually engaged in sheep husbandry. They 
show that we are in the infancy of a business more important 
than our naval stores and mill business combined ; a business 
which will enrich our soil, add to our agricultural productions in 
an ever increasing ratio — bring us wealth, prosperity and power. 

And this is but one of the many advantages South Georgia 
offers to her own people and to industrious immigrants and capi- 
talists from abroad. 

We invite a careful perusal of this article. We invite you to 
compare the facts and figures and estimates here given with the 
actual experience of the men engaged in sheep husbandry in 
your neighborhood. 

We invite capitalists and immigrants from abroad to give this 
matter the fullest investigation, for investigation is all that is 
needed to demonstrate . the manifold advantages of Southern 
Georgia. 

We invite the press of Southern Georgia to investigate and 
write up their section faithfully, truly. Let in the flood light of 
information which a free use of printing ink and a faithful pre- 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 59 

sentation of the facts will do. Disseminate this information in all 
quarters of this country and in Europe, and our word for it, you 
shall see capital, energy and muscle transforming this section of 
Georgia so that it shall become one of the brightest sections of 
the bright new South which is coming, which is here, which sings 
the song of a new era of material development in the hum of 
machinery upon our watercourses, in our mills and factories, in 
the tune of a thousand new industries growing from infancy to 
strength, in the white winged sails of commerce filling our ports, 
in the railroad trains thundering through our forests and reaching 
out to gather in for shipment at our ports the varied products 
of the North and Southwest, in the steamers from our country's 
great business centers and from Europe ploughing our waters 
and bringing us wealth, in the work of thousands of men extend- 
ing our railroad system and building feeders to them and opening 
up new sections to the markets of the world. 

Let us be wise in our day and generation. The world is 
moving with unexampled rapidity in the race of material develop- 
ment. Let us not lag behind, but rather with might and main 
strive ever to make our section, so long neglected, so long mis- 
understood, bright with the sunshine of prosperity. 



VALUE OF PINE LANDS OF SOUTHERN 
GEORGIA. 

We met a man the other day of mature years, broad intelli- 
gence, general reading, and practical business habits. We may 
add that he was outside the limits of any insane asylum, was born 
in Southern Georgia, and has spent a long and useful life in the 
pine woods, and he announced the proposition that the pine lands 
were worth more per acre with the timber off than with it on. 
We asked him his reasons, which he readily gave. Said he : 
" The timber once cut from these lands cannot be replaced. It 
is the growth of centuries. To utilize the land for agriculture- the 
timber must be cut off. That is the timber and lumberman's 
mission. It is fortunate that our timber has a great commercial 
value, because the process of clearing the land brings a handsome 
return to the land owner; but if the timber was commercially 
valueless, we should then be forced to cut it down and burn it, 



6o SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

for our pine lands have an intrinsic value for agricultural purposes 
not dreamed of by their owners. 

" The population of this country is increasing wonderfully. In 
1830 it was only 17,000,000. In fifty years it has trebled. The 
wealth per capita is increasing faster than the population. The 
great cities of the country are becoming wealthy, and able to 
purchase luxuries. Among the luxuries they are able and willing 
to purchase are early vegetables of all kmd, and fruits small and 
large. The wealthy residents of New York, Boston, Philadelphia 
and the great cities of the Northwest care nothing for the price : 
they want them out of season. 

" We have the soil and climate calculated to produce them. 
We have the vast marl and phosphate deposits on our coasts, vast 
bodies of vegetable matter in our swamps, the manure made by 
our cattle and sheep, with which to enrich this soil. It answers 
promptly and with rich harvests to such treatment. It is what 
may with propriety be called quick land. It will raise two crops 
a year, even more, and only asks for the same process of enrich- 
ment that the truck farmer and horticulturist of the North well 
understands must be given to any land to raise fruits and veg- 
etables with profit. 

" We want to disabuse our own minds of the idea that there is 
nothing in our lands except timber. We cut and ship from 
Brunswick and Savannah some of the finest yellow pine timber in 
the world. Land which produces these trees must be valuable. 
The tree is essentially an air plant. It returns to the soil in veg- 
etable matter far more than it takes from it. 

" But you may say this is all theory. Let me give you a few 
facts. The Glynn County Agricultural Society was organized in 
187 1 by Judge Harris, P. M. Nightingale and others. In 1877 
they undertook to have a fair. At that time it was accepted as an 
axiom that cabbage and onions could not be grown successfully 
here. All of both vegetables were imported from the North. The 
display was very meagre. Next year other counties were invited, 
viz : Wayne, Appling, Ware, Clinch, Pierce, Camden and Charl- 
ton. The cabbage and all other vegetables were larger, until in 
1879, 1880 and 1881 the display from these counties has become 
not only creditable but extraordinary. Cabbage b)^ the wagon- 
load have been displa)'ed, as hard as any ever raised in the North 
and weighing eighteen pounds average all round, and single 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 6 1 

specimens weighing thirty-five to thirty-nine pounds. Onions 
six inches in diameter and five inches deep. Beets of enormous 
size. Celery of good quahty; and all through the vegetable lists 
the display has been fine. More significant than that, the same 
sort of cabbage and onions and other vegetables are found in our 
markets of Brunswick, almost displacing the importations from 
the North. I have seen eighteen pound cabbage, hard as a rock, 
white and beautiful as the finest Northern cabbage, selling by the 
load in Brunswick ; Irish potatoes as fine as mortal man could 
desire ; beets, onions, and other vegetables. In Pierce and other 
counties fine vegetables are being raised. Corn on land without 
enrichment has yielded as high as twenty-five bushels per acre ; 
with enrichment from forty to one hundred and three bushels per 
acre, and this upon the much despised lands of Southern Georgia. 
Oats are a success wherever planted, and are being planted more 
widely every year. Albany, Alapaha, Hazlehurst, Brunswick and 
other points are important wool markets, and the production is 
increasing every year ; hundreds of men are making a handsome 
income from it on the lines of road. Dry rice culture is profitable, 
and the acreage is constantly increasing. Sugar cane can be and 
is profitably cultivated. The truth is, that taking the healthful- 
ness, mildness of climate, and nearness to the great markets of 
the country into consideration, this is as fine a section for truck 
farmers, horticulturists, sheep owners, and even for the general 
farmer, as can be found in the country. 

" What we need is a crop of men. Give us these, and the wil- 
derness will lose its wildness. Green crops will greet our eyes 
the whole length of our lines of road; farm houses, barns, and all 
those improvements which indicate a prosperous farming country 
will be seen on every hand ; the change will be seen on our tax 
digests, in our census reports, in our boys and girls' faces, in their 
remaining at home instead of leaving, so soon as they get an edu- 
cation." 

By the Editor. — Was this man insane, or was he speaking 
the words of soberness and truth ? Is it true that we have been 
hugging a delusion when we have repeated the oft told tale that 
our pine woods are valueless ? 

If this man was insane, so are we. And we hope this insanity, if 
such it be, may permeate this country until all appreciate the 
glorious heritage which is ours, and until every individual in 



62 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Southern Georgia shall become a committee of one, and all shall 
form a committee of the whole to make this country all that 
energy, intelligence, work and immigration can make it. 

Everything is propitious. Our railroads are all in strong hands 
in the hands of broad-minded men anxious to develop the material 
interests of the country through which their roads run and willing 
to spend money to bring the muscle and energy here which can 
aid us in such development. Our timber is bringing us fair 
returns. The markets are growing better each year for our agri- 
cultural productions, and the facilities to reach them greater. 

Let us then, mill men and farmers, merchants and doctors, 
lawyers and preachers, men and women everywhere, arouse from 
our lethargy, spread the truth, open our eyes and then the eyes 
of others to our grand opportunities, and joining the railroads in 
the liberal policy they have inaugurated, march on to that era of 
prosperity, happiness and wealth which are the sure goal of earnest 
effort. 

■ UPLAND RICE. 

TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN BUSHELS FROM SIX ACRES. 

Is there money in the cultivation of rice on the uplands ? 

This is an important question for the people of the pine lands, 
and its solution depends upon the practical application of facts in 
experiment, and intelligence in culture. 

One good sohd fact resulting from experiment is worth a world, 
of theory, and the planter who disregards it stands in his own 
light, and will fall behind his more progressive and more enlight- 
ened neighbors. 

A rehable statement comes to us from Coffee county, that 
Henry Peterson, Jr., who 'plants in the vicinity of Douglas, last 
year planted six acres of uplands in rice and fertilized it with half 
a ton of guano only ; that from these six acres he harvested two 
hundred and twenty-seven bushels of rough rice, and sold it for 
one dollar and five cents per bushel at home. This was a yield 
of thirty-eight and a half bushels to the acre, or I40.42. 

Suppose his guano cost $30, or $5 per acre, and the labor $5 
per acre more. There would still be left a clear net profit of 
$30.42 per acre. Now, if this be true, and no one has a right to 
doubt its authenticity, the problem is solved, and all men of com- 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 63 

mon understanding in this section will accept the fact and put in 
less cotton and more rice for the crops ofi88i. There is no 
danger of overstocking the market. We are importing 75,000,000 
bushels annually from foreign countries to supply the demand in 
the States, whereas we should be exporting hundreds of thou- 
sands of bushels to feed the outside world. 

Plant rice ! Plant it in' rows two feet and a half apart ; plant a 
great many rows ; plant the big field and the little field, and don't 
neglect to encourage the seed or cultivate the plants. There is 
money in it. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Islands on the Southern Coast of Georgia. 



The coast of Georgia is lined by a succession of islands, inter- 
sected by numerous navigable channels, which afford good inland 
navigation all along shore. They are generally separated from 
each other by wide bays or sounds which bear their names. The 
principal islands, beginning on the northern extremity of the 
coast of Georgia are St. Catherine's, Sapelo, St. Simon's, Jekyle, 
and Cumberland. They were once covered with rich plantations 
which produced the valuable long staple cotton, called from the 
place of its growth, sea-island cotton. 

These islands, like the neighboring mainland, are covered 
(when not cleared for cultivation) with forests of live-oak, water- 
oak, pine, cedar and palmetto. As* the traveler glides by these 
shores in a steamboat, he is enchanted by the prospect of their 
lively verdure, interspersed with their thick forests. The live-oak, 
which is so called on account of its being an evergreen, is a noble 
tree, with a trunk sometimes twelve feet in girth ; its long branches 
are spread horizontally, and festoons of moss hang from them, 
almost sweeping the ground. The magnolia is here seen, covered 
with large white blossoms shaped like a lily, and a foot in cir- 
cumference; and the cabbage palmetto scattered throughout these 
forests gives to them a truly tropical appearance. 



64 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

These islands offer to the emigrant every inducement that can 
be asked for in chmate and soil. Having the ocean for an eastern 
boundary, the never-failing sea breeze renders the summer tem- 
perature delightful and invigorating, the thermometer seldom 
reaching 90° ; from the same cause the winters are moderate and 
mild, and 25° of cold is of very rare occurrence. 

They have a gray, sandy soil, easy to cultivate, producing cot- 
ton, corn, peas, potatoes, cane, oats, ryej etc. Among the fruits 
that thrive well, especially on the islands of St. Simon's and 
Cumberland, are peaches, pears, figs, oranges and bananas. Other 
tropical fruits which have been acclimatized grow to great perfec- 
tion. 

Olives are successfully cultivated, and oil made from the olives 
grown on St. Simon's Island has been pronounced by competent 
judges not inferior to the best productions of France or Spain. 
The suitableness of the soil and climate of this portion of the 
coast of Georgia to the olive tree admits of no doubt. The exper- 
ment has been successfully made, and trees have yielded regular 
crops since 1835, and during all that time have never been injured 
by cold. It thrives on every soil that is not wet. That the'sandy 
lands of our seaboard are adapted to the olive tree needs no better 
proof than the luxuriant growth of the trees on St. Simon's and 
Cumberland Islands. The oil crop from, these islands is annually 
sold at from $6 to $8 per gallon. 

The scuppernong grape thrives as well as in its native State. 
The soil and climate of the islands are peculiarly adapted to its 
perfect development. White, in his description of this grape? 
says : 

" We consider this very peculiar grape one of the greatest boons 
to the South. It has very little resemblance to any of the grapes 
of the other sorts. It is a rampant grower and requires little, if 
any, cultivation. It blooms from the 15th to the last of June, and 
ripens its fruit the last of September or beginning of October. It 
has no disease in wood, leaf or fruit, and rarely, if ever, fails to 
produce a heavy crDp. We have never known it to fail. Neither 
birds nor insects ever attack the fruit. 

" It will produce a greater weight of fruit than any other variety 
in the world. The clusters vary in size from two to twenty ber- 
ries, and the berries in size from three-fourths to one inch and a 
quarter in diameter. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 65 

"Vines, six years transplanted, have this year given an average 
of three bushels to each vine. We are credibly informed that a 
vine of this variety is growing near Mobile which has produced 
two hundred and fifty bushels of grapes in a year, and we know 
that vines ten years old have given and will give thirty bushels 
per vine. A bushel of these grapes will give from three to three 
and a half gallons of juice, according to ripeness. 

" It is the sweetest and most luscious of any grape we have ever 
seen or tasted ; makes a fine, heavy, high-flavored, fruity wine, and 
is peculiarly adapted to making foaming wines. 

"We do not hesitate to recommend this variety to our friends 
at the South, and pledge our reputation as a pomologist that he 
who plants it will never regret having done so." 

On the Island of St. Simon's, truck-farming for the Northern 
and Western markets has grown rapidly in the last three years, 
and it is on this branch of agriculture, in connection with fruit- 
growing and a pleasure resort, that the future development of 
the island will depend. The cheap and quick transportation now 
offered by the railroads and steamships removes the only obsta- 
cle in the way to a steady and rapid increase in this branch of 
industrv- Crops can be continually grown both winter and sum- 
mer. Two and even three crops may be gathered from the same 
land in the course of the ^ear. The facilities for heavy manur- 
ing, such as is required for truck-farms, can be had in abund- 
ance from the salt marshes that form the western boundary, lying 
between the island and mainland. The vast quantities of vege- 
table matter and muck from these marshes, composted with 
oyster-shell lime, form a never-failing and cheap supply of fer- 
tilizers. These marshes are diained by numerous rivers and 
creeks, which abound in fish, oysters, clams, shrimps, crabs, and 
other products of the salt water. 

Desirable locations on these islands can be procured, either by 
purchase or lease, on favorable terms. Large estates that were 
formerly devoted to the culture of sea-island cotton can now be 
cut up into truck farms, and used to better advantage than could 
be done in cultivating cotton. The uncultivated lands afford 
excellent pasturage for cattle and hogs, both summer and winter, 
and there can be no doubt that sheep would thrive well. 

On the southern end of St. Simon's Island are extensive saw- 
mills, giving^employment to over one hundred and fifty hands, 



66 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

and affording to the surrounding country an abundant supply of 
lumber for building, fencing, etc. 

To the tourist in search of pleasure or health, these islands will 
be found both pleasant and healthy. During the summer months 
the atmosphere is kept cool and at an even temperature by the 
never-failing sea-breeze. This breeze is looked for with almost 
as much certainty as the sunrise, and seldom or never fails. 
Cumberland has a sea-beach of sixteen miles ; St. Simon's, of 
five miles. They afford delightful drives, being hard and smooth. 
Sea-bathing is attended with no risk, and can be enjoyed without 
the fear of accident from the under-tow, which is so often the 
cause of accidents at the Northeril watering places. Nothing of 
the kind is known on this coast. Fishing and hunting afford 
ample amusement to the sportsman. The rivers and woods 
afford abundance of game. 

The mild and even temperature of the winters of St. Simon's 
and Cumberland Islands renders these islands desirable localities 
for those suffering from pulmonary complaints, and persons so 
affected visiting Florida would find these islands pleasant stop- 
ping places on the long route from the Northern or Western 
States to Florida. 

The proximity to the sea, with its refreshing breezes, makes 
them most healthy and agreeable residences in summer ; and in 
winter the same influence is felt in the reduction of the frigidity 
of the atmosphere, coming in contact with the warmer winds of 
the ocean. In no place in the whole State can there be found a 
more salubrious climate than is to be found on the sea islands of 
Georgia. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 67 



CHAPTER IX. 

Letters^from Northern Settlers on Lines of Road in Southern 
Georgia, and from Natives of South Georgia. 

From Letters to Commissioner of Agriculture of Georgia in 

1878-79. 

From Letters to H. M. Drane, Macon and Brunswick Railroad, 

in 1876. 

Ayidfrovi Letters to Waycross Reporter in 1881. 



Eastman, Dodge Co., Ga., July 10, 1876. 
Col. H. M. Drane, 

M. & B. R. R., Macon, Ga. 
Dear Sir : In reply to your request to give you a statement 
in regard to this section of Georgia, generally known as the 
" piney woods" or " wiregrass" country, I beg to submit the fol- 
lowing : I have been acquainted with the counties of Telfair, 
Montgomery, Pulaski, and Dodge since 1861, and have Hved in 
this section and traveled over the above-named counties and Lau- 
rens since the first of 1868. I have run a farm in Dodge county 
for three years, and am now farming. In the year 1874 I kept an 
account of all expenses and proceeds. Had upon the farm four 
mules, but did not use ♦hem more than two-thirds of the time, 
consequently had more expense than was necessary in surplus 
stock; hired three regular hands, and hired day labor to bring 
the cotton to a stand, replant corn, pull fodder, and pick cotton. 
Expenses for guano, labor, rations for mules and hands, and all 
other expenses, with interest added at the end of th6 year, 
amounted to nearly $2,000. Had about 120 acres in cultivation, 
and raised from this 30 bales of cotton averaging over 500 
pounds, which netted a little over $2,200; 1,200 bushels of corn, 
worth $1.25 per bushel, making $1,500; fodder, worth by sales 
$150; 1,000 bushels cottoi^ seed, worth as fertilizer 25 cents per 
bushel, making $250 ; 450 bushels potatoes, worth 50 cents per 
bushel, making $225 ; also a fine crop of peas among the corn, 



68 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

worth at least $150, besides oats, etc. Whole product of farm, 
$4,475. These facts can be substantiated by reference to the 
sale-bills, etc. I had employed a negro farmer, and was most of 
the time absent from the farm, and did not work a day on it, but 
hired all the labor done. This year I am cultivating 75 acres in 
corn and cotton, and 8 acres in sugar cane and potatoes, with two 
mules ; have plowed the entire crop over four times, and have a 
better prospect for a crop than any year previous, although I 
have only spent $75 for guano to put to corn and cotton. 

There is a market right at the door for everything that the 
farm raises, as over half the people are engaged in sawing lumber 
or cutting timber from the fine yellow-pine forest, which is equaled 
by none in the United States. The land is easy to clear ; nothing to 
do but to chop around the trees, cut up, pile, and burn the logs, 
build a fence, and go to plowing. The land is well adapted to 
raising corn, cotton, sugar cane, oats, potatoes, peanuts, and all 
kinds of vegetables ; and all it lacks is plenty of good, industri- 
ous, honest people, to make it the best poor man's country in 
the world, as they can get houses here so very cheap that any 
industrious man can soon pay for it and make a good living and 
to spare. While there is a good chance for capitalists to invest 
in pine-timbered lands and develop the same, it is also a good 
stock raising country, especially for sheep, as they do well all 
winter without being fed at all. Colts do well most of the year, 
and keep pretty fat upon the range, and will live through the 
winter without being fed at all, but get very poor. Hogs can be 
raised here as cheap as anywhere, but have to be fed if they 
grow large. Very respectfully, etc., 

JOHN W. GRIFFIN. 



The following letter from Mr. Clemens — written for other par- 
ties — is the more important, as he used no fertilizers. In truth, 
with improved plows and tools, good seeds, and improved modes 
of cultivation, this land could be made to do much better. 

LETTER OF JACOB A. CLEMENS, ESQ. 

Lot No. 135, 8th District, Telfair Co., Ga., Dec. 13, 1869. 
Dear Sir : . 

In reply to your questions relating to the quality of soil and 
the products of my plantation, I will make the following state- 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 69 

ment. It has no better soil than the average quality of the pine 
wood soil of this part of Georgia. 
My average crops are as follows : 

Corn, shelled, 20 to 30 bushels per acre. 

Sweet potatoes, 200 to 300 " " 

Ginned cotton, 400 to 500 pounds " 

Peanuts, 20 bushels " 

Cane syrup, 400 gallons " 

One man and a boy, with a mule, usually cultivate thirty acres 
of this land. I also raise as fine Irish potatoes, turnips, beets, 
peas, and oats as I ever saw grown anywhere ; in fact, this is just 
the place for all kinds of garden vegetables, and a great variety of 
fruits, I herewith send samples of corn, cotton, and potatoes 
raised this year. Respectfully yours, 

' JACOB A. CLEMENS. 



Near Douglas, Coffee Co., Ga., 

August 7, 1876. 
Mr. H. M. Drane, 

G. T. & P. Agent. 
Dear Sir: Yours of July 17, asking information in regard to 
sheep-raising in this section of Georgia, is to hand. Will answer : 
First, we clip about 2>% pounds per head of wool, per sheep ; 
price of ewes is $2, the lambs $1.50 per head ; mutton sheep, $2 
per head. As for the produce from the fold, we realize nothing, as 
we never put them in fold at all only while we are shearing, as we 
let them roam at large over a large section of country. A dry, hilly, 
broken country suits them best. Very seldom there is any dis- 
ease among sheep in this country. Sometimes a few have sore 
heads, which is easily cured by the use of tar, grease ^nd sulphur. 
The cost to maintain sheep is nothing as to feeding. We use 
large woods pasture. Sometimes we fence the ewes and lambs 
when very young, to protect the lambs from the ravages of hogs. 
I have about 2,000 head, the profit of which is about $2,500 a year. 
The greatest trouble is gathering to shear and mark the lambs. 
Any other information will be given at any time. 

Very respectfully, 

HENRY PETERSON. 



70 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Copy of Letter Written by J. W. Sheldon to Friends in New York. 

Eastman, Dodge Co., Ga., January 9, 1876. 
Dear Sir : 

On the 15th of December, 1875, I started with my family from 
Rockland, county, New York, for Augusta, Ga., but on the steamer 
Magnolia, en route lor Savannah, I made the acquaintance of Mr. 
Henry Niemann, a German gentleman, going to Eastman, Dodge 
county, Ga., to make arrangements for settling a colony upon a 
tract of land lying mostly in that county, and known as the lands 
of the Georgia Land and Lumber Company. The lands are em- 
braced by the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers, and is nearly bisected 
by the Macon and Brunswick Railroad. This tract of land, Mr. 
Niemann assured me, upon good authority, was fine rolling land, 
and covered mostly with the long-leaf yellow pine ; was in as 
healthy a location as could be found in Georgia, and possessed as 
many advantages for the settlers as any location to be found any- 
where in the State. He told me that if I would go with him 
to Eastman, he would guarantee me a house to live in and 
good society, with every advantage he could render me when 
there. After consulting my family, we concluded to go, and so 
became the first family in his colony. We arrived in Eastman 
December 24th, and got our house, and found everything as good 
as it had been recommended to us, and many better than we 
looked for. 

The country about Eastman lies as fine for agricultural pur- 
poses as any land could, just rolling enough for natural drainage 
and not enough to be broken. The soil, like most yellow pine 
lands, is sandy, and at first view appears to be too much so, but 
the whole region is underlaid with a clay subsoil, rendering it 
impossible for the land to leach, and enabling the farmer to bring 
his land to si high state of cultivation, while the sand renders the 
soil light and warm, also easily cultivated at once after rain with- 
out injuring it, as in clay soil. Cotton, sugar-cane, corn, oats, 
sweet potatoes, and melons grow here luxuriantly. The water of 
this region is pure and as soft as warm water, obtained easily by 
digging from 20 to 30 feet in the clay, and the clay is of that nature 
that the well requires no walling, as the clay will not cave, but 
stands for any length of time firm as a brick wall. The climate 
since I came has been delightful, and I am assured by the people 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 71 

of the place that it is a splendid climate, equal in every way ta 
any in the United States. The people here can have their garden 
vegetables fresh from the garden any day in the year without 
housing them. The lumber of this region is as good for building 
purposes as ever need be, and is worth on an average about 
$g per thousand feet, thus enabling settlers to build cheap, good 
buildings. Grass grows all through the woods in this part of the 
State, and while it is not like the Northern tame grass, it is good 
for cattle and sheep, and sheep especially can be kept to great 
profit and in great quantities. Any one wishing to confer with 
Mr. Henry Niemann can do so by addressing him in person or 
by letter at 294 Broadway, room 13, New York. I cheerfully 
recommend him as an honest, careful business man, of good 
judgment, warm-hearted and sympathetic. 

J. W. SHELDON, 
Formerly of Tompkin's Cove, N. Y. 



Copy of Letter from f. W. Sheldon to Friends in New York. 

Eastman, Dodge Co., Ga., July 26, 1876. 
Dear Sir : 

A little over seven months ago, I came to Dodge county, Ga., 
and have consequently witnessed a greater part of winter, all 
of the spring, and am now witnessing the hot season, and can 
truly say that this is by far the finest climate I have ever found, 
after having lived in seventeen States of this Union. The winter 
and spring here are so mild and pleasant and so healthy that 
both man and beast can fully enjoy life, instead of simply endur- 
ing it, as they do much of this part of the year at the North. The 
summer or heated term is longer, and in this region the hot 
weather is more constant than in New York, New Jersey or Penn- 
sylvania, but the degree of heat is not so high, and the lassiti?de 
produced not so great. There is almost always a breeze which 
so tempers the heat of the sun that sun-stroke is a thing scarcely 
known in that region. I have worked constantly in the open 
air for three months past, exposed to the full heat of the sun, and 
can say in truth that I have not experienced any more inconve- 
nience from heat than I have done during the same part of the 
year in New York, Ohio, Illinois, or Missouri. I am disappointed 
in the crops of this region, but the disappointment is a happy 



72 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

one. I see good crops on land which has had no fertiUzing for 
years and very poorly cultivated, while on lands fertilized and 
well cultivated the crops are remunerative to a degree I had not 
expected. The lands in Dodge county are easily worked, and 
after they are cleared and properly cultivated can be made to pay a 
better per cent, on the cost of land and cultivation than any other 
region I know of, either North or West. However, this region is 
not one where a man may sit down and fare sumptuously on the 
bread of idleness. Industry and economy are necessary to suc- 
cess here as elsewhere, only they pay a larger per cent, than else- 
where. Finally, to sum up, we have in this part of Georgia as 
delightful a climate for nine months in the year as is had in any 
part of the United States, and can get a good living for as little 
wear and tear as can be had in any other part of our country. 
Come and try it, all who want a good home in a good place. 

Respectfully, 

J. W. SHELDON. 



Eastman, Ga., July 19, 1876, 
Col. Henry M. Drane, 

G. P. & T. Agent, 

Macon, Ga. 
Dear Sir : I have lived in this vicinity for forty-seven years, 
and twenty-five of that number have been devoted to the practice 
of medicine, and, in my opinion, it is one of the healthiest coun- 
tries to be found anywhere. The climate is salubrious, having 
very few sudden changes. Is free from causes which produce 
violent and dangerous attacks of sickness. Those who are vic- 
tims of lung or throat disease would be greatly benefited by a 
residence here, and perhaps our mild climate would afford them 
a final cure. The types of disease common to this country are 
mild and easily controlled, and it is entirely free from epidemics 
of a serious nature. Formerly, little attention was given to agri- 
culture, but of late years it has become an industry of much 
value. The soil is very productive. Vegetables grow in abund- 
ance both winter and summer. For sheep and cattle raising it 
is not surpassed in the Southern States. They increase rapidly, 
and support themselves upon the natural grasses which cover the 
entire woods. The fleece of the sheep is free from all burs and 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 73 

quite large. They receive but little attention, yet yield a hand- 
some profit The water is cool and wholesome — free fi-om lime- 
stone and all other impurities. The people are social and hospi- 
table, showing great kindness to strangers, and generally, the 
morals of the country are very good. Those who have worked 
have shown signs of great prosperity, and offer open hands and 
hearts to any who wish to join them in developing the resources 
of this favored land. 

I am, respectfully yours, 

JAMES M. BUCHAN, M. D. 



DOUGHERTY COUNTY. 

You ask for my experience as an immigrant. I must say that 
it has been very pleasant both socially and politically ; and as for 
health, I could not have found a more favorable climate. I am a 
farmer, and I think as an agricultural State, Georgia, and particu- 
larly the southern part of it, is more favored both in soil and cli- 
mate than almost any other section of America. One great ad- 
vantage to immigrants is that we have every facility in the way of 
cheap transportation, by rail and by water. The productions of the 
soil are almost unlimited in variety and amount. Still, there is 
room for choice in selecting lands, and one should not be too 
hasty in selling. The best time to visit this country is from Sep- 
tember to June, for then you see the State at its best and worst. 
Lands from $3 to $8 per acre. Taxes very low. Stock of all 
kinds are raised here, and it is a great fruit country. I came from 
Maine in 1869. F. L. BRIDGE, Albany, Ga. 



I immigrated from England to Georgia in 1878, and am en- 
gaged as a clerk. My family and I have suffered less from heat 
than in Massachusetts. 

The soil is a sandy loam, capable of a high degree of improve- 
ment. Have had better health than in Massachusetts. Society 
is good, and I consider life and property as safe as in the North- 
ern States. The feeling toward immigrants is all that could be 
desired. The white people gladly welcome settlers from the other 
States, and give them every assistance in their power. Too much 



74 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

praise cannot be awarded them. Land is very low — much below 
its actual value. One or two farms adjoining' me are for sale at a 
price much less than the cost of improvement thereon. The 
profits in good seasons will almost pay for a farm. A much better 
opportunity is offered immigrants here than at the West. 

THOS. KIRKE, Albany, Ga. 



LOWNDES COUNTY. 

New Jersey is my native State, whence I came to Georgia in 
1869, and engaged in farming and lumbering. The climate is 
healthy, if the diet be suited to the latitude, as is proven by the 
fact that the people are able to live on corn bread, bacon, coffee, 
and syrup. It is not so hot as the Middle States in summer. 
The natural soil is much better, but does not retain manure so 
well, on account of evaporation in winter. It is easier to work, 
being free from stones. I have raised 16^ bushels of Irish po- 
tatoes on one-twentieth of an acre. The second crop yields well, 
if of an early variety, furnishing a supply during the year. Not 
good for fruit, except figs, grapes and pears. 

Horned cattle can be raised at one-fifth the expense required in 
the Middle States, requiring but a very small amount of nutritious 
food in winter, when the grass is toug-h. Life and property are as 
safe as in any country of mixed races. Negroes here, as else- 
where, are given to pilfering. Whites are easily angered, but not 
revengeful. Settlers are treated with kindness, both in social and 
business circles. Lands worth $5 per acre here would sell for $50 
in New York, Pennsylvania or New Jersey. 

L. A. HAYNES, Valdosta, Ga. 



THOMAS COUNTY. 

My original profession was that of a confectioner, but for the 
last ten years I have been engaged in growing fruits, having come 
to this State in i860. There is but little inducement for mechan- 
ics to settle here, because everything that can be made abroad is 
brought here for sale. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. , 75 

The climate is all that could be desired. The soil is of varied 
character, light soils predominating, but all produce well with a 
moderate use of manures. The productions include about all 
those of the temperate and semi-tropical zones. The health and 
physical development of the people are specially good, and I find 
that foreigners here enjoy permanent good health. This is the 
general rule with all those who retain their old habits of using 
lighter food and drink than are here commonly used. The con- 
dition of society here is very good. The foreign immigrant 
would perhaps miss the jovial festivals he had so often enjoyed 
in his old home. 

Ten years ago, when I brought here two Swiss families, the 
head of one, shortly after their arrival, exclaimed : " My God ! 
can you let your hogs run about as they do without their being 
stolen?" Even my tempting fruits are not trespassed upon by the 
boys here in town. 

Taxes are very light compared to elsewhere. Very kind feel- 
i'lgs are manifested towards the immigrant who settles here as a 
worker and not as an agitator. His standing in society will be 
equal to his reasonable expectations, here or elsewhere. 

\ JOHN STARK, Thomasville, Ga. 



I am a native of the United States (North); settled in Thomas- 
ville in 1873. Am a minister of the Gospel. The inducements 
for immigration are reasonably good. The climate is delightful ; 
the soil, though not naturally riph, is easy of improvement. Pro- 
ductions, cotton, corn, oats, wheat, ry%, rice, flax, broom-corn, 
sugar-cane, sweet and Irish potatoes, strawberries, pears, peaches, 
grapes, etc. General healthfulness excellent. Condition of soci- 
ety and safety to life and property good. There is a great desire 
for immigrants, and they are kindlv treated^ Lands are low in 
price, and profits of farming remunerative. Wise investments 
in farming lands, with suitable management, yield a handsome 
profit, despite the expensive transportation, which in some cases 
is ruinous, and in all a serious drawback. 

JAMES A. McKEE, Thomasville, Ga. 

[A letter containing substantially the same representations as 
the foregoing, was received from Mr, Fay Hirshinger, a native 
of Germany, now merchandising in Thomasville.] 



^d , SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

WORTH COUNTY. 

My native country is England, whence I came in 1856 to Irwin 
county. Have followed school teaching and planting. Men with 
small capital can do more and better here than anwyhere I know 
of. Good teachers make a living. Climate is good, soil various, 
but all will remunerate labor properly directed. Productions are 
corn, cotton, potatoes, etc., etc. Fruits and vegetables in abund- 
ance. Health good, society coarse, but honest. Life and prop- 
erty are safe. Taxes light. Treatment of strangers is very kind 
and hospitable. Land is cheaper in this section, according to 
quality, than anywhere else. 

E. COURTOY, Isabella, Ga. 



I came from Ohio to Georgia in the month of December, 1872, 
and have been engaged in farming ever since. I made two crops 
in Fulton county, and one in Fayette county. From thence I 
moved to Worth county, where I have purchased a lot of land 
and established a permanent home, having my second crop about 
ready to "lay by." I am satisfied that I can make farming prof- 
itable here, simply by leaving off guano and manufacturing my 
own manure. The climate surpasses that of any other country I 
ever saw. The winters are mild, and I have suffered much less 
from heat in the summer season than in Ohio. The soil, in 
places, is sandy, while other places are pebbly and solid, and pro- 
duces well by using but a trifle of manure. The production of 
this country is about the same as that of Ohio, with the addition 
of much that cannot be raised in that State. This country is very 
healthy, except malarial diseases about the watercourses ; society 
is about the same as in Ohio ; so is the security of life and prop- 
erty. Taxes are no higher here than in any other country. The 
feeling and treatment manifested towards me, wherever Ihave 
lived in this State, have been nothing but friendship and kindness. 
Lands here rate from 50 cents to $3 per acre. Thousands of acres 
of unimproved lands in this county can be bought at 50 cents per 
acre, much better and more profitable to farmers than lands in 
Ohio and elsewhere for which you have to pay from $40 to $50 
per acre. JOHN MYGRANT, Warwick, Ga. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. ']^ 

PULASKI COUNTY. 

I immigrated from Massachusetts, my native State, to Georgia 
in 1877, and have been engaged in the mercantile business and 
in farming, almost exclusively the latter the last year. Although 
the methods of farmicg here are different from what I- have been 
accustomed to, yet such information was readily obtained as 
enabled me to make with three plows 24 bales of cotton, 700 to 
800 bushels of corn, and a good crop of peas. Labor — the 
main factor here — requires more study than any of the elements 
of successful farming. My observation, thus far, teaches me that 
by personal attention to business, by patience and strict justice 
and fair dealing towards employees, the mutual interests of both 
white and colored people may be promoted and prosperity se- 
cured. 

For three months of the year — ^July, August and September — 
the weather is uery warm, though ths thermometer seldom rises 
above 90 or 95 degrees in the shade. During the remaining 
months the climate is delightful. Although not much of the soil 
is naturally rich, yet it is easily worked, and by intelligent culti- 
vation, produces profitable crops. It is mostly sandy upon a 
subsoil of stiff clay. The forest growth is chiefly pine and oak, 
though there are many other species. The staple products are 
cotton, corn, oats, sugar cane and sweet potatoes, with a great 
variety of garden vegetables. Peaches, sand pears, grapes, plums, 
strawberries, etc., can be raised in abundance. One party here 
made 1,200 gallons of wine from three acres of Concord and 
Delaware grapes — the fourth season after setting. 

Any industrious, sober man, with a small capital, by accommo- 
dating himself to the methods of farming suited to this region 
(a matter not at all difficult), is almost sure to "get on" here ; and 
in a few years, if he proves himself trustworthy, can work him- 
self up to actual ownership and independence. 

B. F. PURSONS, Hawkinsville, Ga. 



78 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



LETTERS FROM ACTUAL SETTLERS. 



BRYAN COUNTY. 

I came to this county from the North in 1850. The cHmate 
hero is delightful, and the soil unsurpassed for rice, corn, peas, 
cotton, potatoes. As to health, there is some fever on the river, 
but very healthy away from it. 

The condition of society is good, and there are few disorderly 
persons in the part of the county where I live. Taxes are mod- 
erate, and life and property are as secure as anywhere in the 
Union. I think good immigrants would be very favorably re- 
ceived. The profits of rice culture are large, except when the 
crop is injured by storms, which are liable to occur in the river 
bottoms. GEO. LYMAN, Appleton, i>^ A. & G. R. R. 



I am a native of Massachusetts ; lived three years in New York 
State and two in Connecticut ; settled in Bryan county, Ga , in 
1867. I am a teacher and farmer. If money is the object, school 
teaching is not a success — though we need teachers, but farming 
pays. Timber — Cyprus, black gum, sweet gum, and especially 
pine — is abundant, and might be utilized in the manufacture of 
boxes and measures. The climate is delightful, and I think I owe 
my life to it, for I came here a consumptive and am cured with- 
out medicine. The pine land is light and poor, but yields ample 
returns when fertilizers are applied. A great deal of swamp land 
not yet under cultivation is very rich, and will be reclaimed in 
time. The leading farm crops are cotton, rice, sweet potatoes, 
sugar-cane, corn, oats, peas, chufas. Have been married twelve 
years ; have six children None of us have been sick for a day ; 
had no occasion to call a doctor. The people are moral and gen- 
erally religious; very few atheists, deists or sceptics. A fine 
opening for preachers and teachers who don't want much money 
for their services. I believe that life and property are as safe here 
as anywhere. The people are law-abiding. Taxes very low — 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 79 

only one per cent, including State and county. The feeling is 
very kind towards immigrants ; the people are more anxious for 
immigration than the older States. Land will average about $i 
per acre, and is capable of a high degree of improvement by 
proper use of fertilizers, at a much less cost than the soil in New 
York, Massachusetts or Connecticut. 



CAMDEN COUNTY. 

I am a native of New York State ; did mercantile business for 
twenty years at Waverly, Tioga county, in that State ; came to 
Georgia for my health in 1869. Since my residence here — nearly 
ten years — myself and family have enjoyed uninterrupted health, 
winter and summer. From my experience and observation, I be- 
Heve the climate of the southern coast of Georgia cannot be sur- 
passed for health and comfort during the entire year. 

The soil, with proper culture, will produce every variety of veg- 
etables, and is most grateful for kind treatment. Even with infe- 
rior cultivation the soil yields a return that could not be realized in 
the most favored locality in the North, under the same treatment. 
For growing the orange, or any other semi-tropical fruit grown 
in Florida (north of the frost line), the southern coast of Georgia 
for sixty miles has advantages over the orange district one hun- 
dred miles south. The orange tree is more hardy, less liable to 
injury from cold, and the fruit has a thinner skin and higher flavor. 
I have 1,500 trees. Not a single year-old seedling killed by the 
cold last January, while the trees in Central and Middle Florida 
suffered serious injury. Farm crops successfully grown are cot- 
ton, corn, sugar-cane, sorghum, peas and beans, Irish and sweet 
potatoes, oats, rye, etc. 

This region is far more healthy than any section of the North 
or West with which I am acquainted, and we have at St. Mary's 
as peaceable and law-abiding class of people — white and black — 
as can be found in any section. So far as I have seen, there is 
less sectional feeUng in the South than in the North, and I have 
never had any fear of personal violence to myself, family or to 
any Northern man who may desire to settle in Georgia. For 
nearly ten years that I have lived South, 1 have, without excep- 
tion, received the kindest treatment and evidences of good will. 



8o SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

The men who now represent the condition of society at the 
South to be such as should deter a Northern man from settHng 
here are enemies to the poor — white and black — North and South. 
Such men, who still appeal to the passions, were not clothed in 
blue or gray (during the civil strife) for honest purposes ; if wear- 
ing either color they were the home guards — or men seeking 
some personal benefit or political position. I have no doubt the 
persistent misrepresentations of the Southern people have de- 
terred many good men from seeking homes in the South, who, 
could they have known the truth, would now be in the posses- 
sion and enj')yment of free and independent homes in the South, 
freed from the anxieties of their present condition North. 

Taxes in Pennsylvania and New York — where I have real es- 
tate interests — are as four to one in Georgia. In Georgia, taxes 
are low on a low valuation — in the North they are high on a high 
valuation. 

If all Georgians would work for Georgia as the Floridians work 
for Florida, the population would be doubled in ten years. 

In my opinion there is no State in the Union that has the un- 
developed wealth of Georgia. Every variety of fruit and grain 
grown in the United States can be successfully grown in Georgia; 
its mineral wealth is very great, and its advantages for manufac- 
turing everything useful are unsurpassed. Every variety of cli- 
mate, from the balmy air of its southern coast, to its mountains 
and snow of winter in the northern portion. 

I am proud of my native State, New York, but equally as much 
interested in the prosperity and full development of my adopted 

State South. 

SILAS FORDHAM, 
St. Mary's, Camden county, Ga. 

[Very interesting letters were also received from Mr. Joseph 
Sheppard, St. Mary's, a native of Pennsylvania ; Mr. Richard 
Beally, St. Mary's, from England ; and Mr. W. A. White, St. 
Mary's, from Connecticut. The above covers the points fully, 
and is concurred in by the others.] 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



GLYNN COUNTY. 



I am a lineal decendant of the seventh generation of Elder 
Wm. Brewster, a native of Connecticut, and have resided here 
about ten years. I was educated a physician. Persons of 
various professions have visited and done business in our county 
and those adjoining, and are now settled and doing business here, 
apparently for life. 

According to my knowledge and information, the inciucements 
for immigration are fully equal to those of any quarter of the 
globe, and surpass those of most localities. The social condition 
is better than it is at the North. Better feeling prevails toward 
the North than is reciprocated. The South is more humble, 
which insures God's blessing. 

F. A. BREWSTER, M. D., Brunswick, Ga. 



Massachusetts is my native State. I came here in 1865, and 
engaged in the manufacture of yellow pine lumber. My "pro- 
fession" is pretty well filled up now. This section offers induce- 
ments to farmers, and especially to stock growing. The climate 
is superior to that of Massachusetts, take it the year round. The 
soil, with care, is very productive of corn, cotton, vegetables and 
fruits of all kinds — bananas, olives, etc., wheat and all cereals. 
Health is good where the cbunj:ry is properly drained so that no 
stagnant ponds are near. This low, flat section must have drain- 
age to insure health. The condition of society is every way 
satisfactory, and life is secure as anywhere. Taxes (local city) 
are moderately heavy — owing to extravagance of officials and 
unsatisfactory political condition after reconstruction, while under 
the temporary control of the negroes. The people are very kind 
to immigrants, and their social treatment is unexceptionable. 
Land is very cheap, and good farms are readily obtainable. 

WARREN A. FULLER, Brunswick, Ga. 

[Reference is also made to J no. R. Cook, Brunswick, Ga., 
from whom a letter was received.] 



82 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

• LIBERTY COUNTY. 

It gives me pleasure to answer your questions. I was born in 
Rhode Island, and came here last December with my uncle, Mr. 
Coe. Am a farmer, and consider this the best place for a young 
farmer with small capital, on account of the cheapness of land 
small cost of living and good prices for farm produce. The 
climate is healthy ; have never been so well as since I came here. 
The soil looks good — time will tell how good. Rice, corn and 
cotton are the principal crops. Mine is all rice. Society is 
refined and agreeable, but very few white people in this section. 
It is perfectly safe for any honest man, white or black, to live 
here. I was cordially received, and all express a desire for set- 
tlers to come and "occupy the land." Land is worth from $i,oo 

to $5.00 per acre. 

G. A. BAILEY, Dorchester, Ga. 



Not having been in Georgia a sufficient time to answer all your 
questions, I will confine myself to those which do not require 
length of time for solution. I am a farmer, came from New 
England in 1878. The inducements most noticeable to a new- 
comer are cheap lands for farming and grazing. From my brief 
experience, I consider the climate very healthy and enjoyable, 
and my life as safe here as in any place in our country. Think 
the freedmen are not so well able to withstand the temptation to 
steal as those who have had better opportunities for moral 
education. 

The feeling manifested towards me has been most kind and 
cordial — far more so than I had any right to expect. Found a 
hearty welcome everywhere. 

I cannot refrain from saying that, in my estimation, there is no 
part of our country that possesses superior conditions for suc- 
cessful enterprise in any branch of farming, whether it be stock 
raising, farming proper or fruit growing. 

JAS. COE, Dorchester, Ga. 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 83 

WAYNE COUNTY. 

Am a native of New York; came here in 1869, and engaged 
in merchandising. If goods are sold stricdy for cash, I know of 
no better opening for well-posted business men than in Southeast 
Georgia. Little farming done in this immediate neighborhood, 
though climate and soil favor the production of cotton, rice, corn, 
oats, sugar cane and sweet potatoes. Soil in this county sandy, 
with clay subsoil. Crops are two or three weeks ahead of those 
across the river, in Liberty county (which is much lower than 
Wayne, but the richest, and finest county in Southeast Georgia). 
Fruits grow in profusion and of elegant quality. This is as 
healthy a section as I ever lived in, and that covers a close 
acquaintance and sojourn in every State this side of Oregon and 
California. There are malarial fevers at times, but they readily 
succumb to ordinary remedies, and there is nothing of malignant 
type. Of the condition of society, can say nothing in its favor, 
but the adjoining county of Liberty has a splendid class of people, 
noted for morality. 

Life and property are as safe as in any part of the United 
States. Taxes are unusually small, and we are out of debt, with 
a balance in the treasury. With a few exceptions among the 
most ignorant, the great majority of the people, and all the better 
classes extend a hearty welcome to Northern immigrants who 
are men of energy and industry. Capital, however, is no dis- 
qualification. With one-fourth the investment and one-fourth 
the labor here, a good farmer can reap ten times the value of the 
same investment North. Land can be bought at from 25 cents 
to $3.00 per acre. 

During a residence of ten years, I have failed to see or hear of 
an instance, in this section, of "intimidation" or "shot-gun policy," 
to white or black. Perfect freedom of speech — political or 
religious. We need a fence law (to fence stock) and a dog law — 
for this country is magnificent for sheep -raising. 

JAMES O. CLARKE, Doctor Town, Ga. 

[Want of space forbids the insertion of a very interesting letter 
from Mr. S. S. Moore, who came from Ohio in 1866. His post- 
office is Jesup, Ga.] 



84 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



LETTERS TO WAYCROSS REPORTER. 



Editor Reporter: 

Your enterprising efforts for the development of Southern 
Georgia, your commendable zeal to convert a large part of our 
State from the extensive pine barrenness, hitherto valuable only 
for timber, and in the near future valueless for that, into gardening 
and farming purposes should give you a strong hold upon the 
approval and material support of every Georgian, but especially 
of those of us living in those counties bordering on the Florida 
line and the Atlantic coast. These Southern and Southeastern 
counties are now yielding to the demands of the world at large a 
value in building materials of which our fathers forty years ago 
never dreamed. And now that this element of value will soon 
be removed under the enterprise and laboring hand of the mill 
man, shall we, as our fathers did in the past, say of these vast 
tracts of land : they can never be utilized, they are only valuable 
for the timber, the last and only value attached to them is gone. 
We will from henceforth turn them over in fee simple to the wire- 
grass. Such a conclusion is unjustifiable. These lands can and 
should support herds of catde and sheep with a value to their 
owners, or should be marked up into small lots of seventy acres 
each and made valuable by contributing to the support and 
maintenance of thrifty and industrious families. 

If we turn our attention to the mountainous districts of North- 
ern Georgia and Middle Tennessee, we will there find large num- 
bers of families making decent and substantial support on farms 
varying in size from seven to fifteen acres at inconvenient dis- 
tances from market, and their small farms frequently washed and 
marked up by large gullies, or lying along such precipitous hill- 
sides that it is almost impossible to have them traversed by plow- 
horse or ox. Although these farms are so small and surrounded 
by many serious inconveniences, yet, when near the towns or cities 
or along the railroads and rivers, their market value varies from 
twenty-five to one hundred dollars per acre. The lands lying 
along the great railroads of Southern Georgia which have been 
placed at your disposal to be deeded to bona fide immigrants and 
settlers are far superior to, and more valuable than, the lands 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 85 

lying among the mountains of this or any other State, where 
thousands of people are living and supporting large families. 

Those large land owners have shown great wisdom in placing 
their lands at your disposal, and when the current of immigra- 
tion shall turn in this direction, as it will most certainly do in the 
near future, they will reap a great harvest in the increased value 
of the alternate lots retained by them "and thousands will rise up 
and call them blessed." It is not at all surprising that there 
should arise opposition to the scheme of immigration, for we have 
only to reflect for a moment and we are reminded that opposition 
has always raised its growling head at every reformatory move 
in church or state. There will always be those who have nothing 
to do but to lay hold and pull back the car of enterprise and 
development. There can be in the nature of the case no good 
reason why the vast tracts of unimproved lands lying immediately 
on the Savannah, Florida and Western and Brunswick and Al- 
bany Railroads should not be placed ' in the hands of Northern 
and Eastern farmers, and be made contributary to the material 
support of our largely increasing population. 

Brooks county to-day can furnish homes and farms for a 
thousand immigrant families and the present holders have their 
estates increased in value thirty-three and a half per cent. Not 
long since, in company with an enterprising man from Fall River, 
Mass., while riding over a part of this county We heard him say 
of our undeveloped resources and vm cleared lands : ''All you 
need in this country is men and money." Nature has placed 
within easy grasp, to the need of the industrious and frugal 
farmer, a greater variety of wealth producing products in South- 
ern Georgia than can be found in any Northern or Western 
State, and if it were not taking too much of your space, it would 
be a pleasing talk to make the coriiparison : Here we have no 
inclement season, the farmer can labor every month of the year, 
he can make two valuable crops on the sanie and in one year ; 
here he can with almost a certainty produce corn, cotton, sugar 
cane, sweet potatoes, pinders, field peas in great variety, Irish 
potatoes, oats, rye, tobacco, jute, hemp, rice on either low or upland ; 
here gardening for market is fast becoming a great source of 
wealth, here the dairy and poultry yard yield a handsome profit. 
In a few short years the lines of railroad entering to Savannah 
and Brunswick will demand a line of steamships connecting these 



B6 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

ports with Europe, then we shall have a market for the products 
of the farm, the garden, the dairy and the poultry yard on the 
continent, as we now have for our yellow pine lumber. 

Development is the order of the day, the watchword of the 
hour. The car of material prosperity moves, and we must move 
with it. Pardon the length of this communication, and believe 
me in sympathy with your plans and efforts to improve the 
country and benefit the people. JOHN G. McCALL. 

Quitman, Ga., July 28, 1881. 

[Note. — There is already steam communication between Sa- 
vannah and Europe during the cotton season, and soon will be 
regular steam lines between both Brunswick and Savannah to 
Europe.] 



Deadham, Mass., August 18, 1881. 
Judge Joseph Tillman: 

My Dear Sir: 
Your papers have been received weekly and distributed to the 
best advantage, and I will continue to distribute what you may 
choose to forward me for distribution. The people here are be- 
ginning to take a lively interest in the South for the last few 
months, which will aid you greatly in peopling your country. 
The Reporter is very highly prized bv the people of this country, 
and you will doubtless get a great many subscribers. Everybody 
wants to see the Reporter, from the bankers down to the garden 
farmers. It has awakened a great deal of interest and a lively 
inquiry about Southeast Georgia, and many excellent families 
are looking anxiously in that direction for the doors of your 
pooling scheme to be thrown open and they invited to come in 
and partake with your people in, as you choose to call it, God's 
country. You seem to be doing all within your power to put life into 
your people, and I hope they will soon wake up to a realizing sense 
of their situation and invite people to come and help build up their 
country and become rich in worldly effects together. South- 
eastern Georgia is capable of raising and feeding fifty people 
where it does one now, and the forty-nine are ready to go if you will 
hold out any inducements for them to go and share with you. 
Once get the first half of them and the rest are sure to follow and 
pay well for the privilege of making a home with you. I hope 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 87 

to see your people come up to the work at once, as it is now the 
fall of the year, which is the season Northern people should 
start in, in the South, to become acclimated. Do not let it pass 
by this season, as it will carry you one year further along, or, in 
other words, you will be one year behind. 

Most respectfully yours, 

C. C. SANDERSON. 



Waycross, Ga., August 17, 188 1. 
Judge Tillman: 

Dear Sir: 
I read with pleasure your remarks in last week's issue of the 
Reporter on grape culture in this section of country. I will say 
to you and your many readers, that I was raised, or, as we 
Yankees would say, brought up, in Ulster county, New York, 
which is considered as good, if not the best grape growing sec- 
tion North, and have, since my youth, traveled in nearly every 
State in the Union, have lived several years in California, and five 
years in South America — a good portion of the time in Peru. I 
' now come to what I want to say, and will say it, because I believe 
it, and that is, that this is, by far, naturally, the best grape grow- 
ing country I have ever seen. I am much interested on this 
subject, and would like to see the experiment tried here by a 
dozen or more skilled grape growers from Ulster county, N. Y., 
for I feel well assured — yea, I know it would prove out a grand 
success. I have weighed bunches of the Concord grape grown 
in this town, gathered from the Lott vineyard, which has never 
received a fourth of the attention given to vineyards at home, 
which weighed as much as twenty-two ounces to the bunch, with 
every grape properly and uniformly matured. Such a thing as a 
mildew and rot has never been known here. Grapes of different 
varieties ripen here every year, and are very sweet and juicy. I 
have never known or heard of the vines or fruit being attacked 
by insects of any kind. I regard this immediate section as being 
the natural home of the grape, with a congenial soil and climate 
combined. What I have said on this subject I believe to be true. 

Yours truly, 

D. C. TOMPKINS. 

Note. — Mr. Tompkins has located permanently at Waycross. 



88 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



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SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 89 

Receipts of Cotton at the Port of Savannah from September i, 
1880, to Attgust 31, 188 1. 

Upland. Sea Island. 

Central Railroad 676,707 , . . 

Savannah, Florida and Western 155,061 5.705 

Charleston and Savannah 18,517 . . . 

Augusta steamers 20,716 . . . 

Coasters 365 276 

Carts 4,218 450 

Ginned in city , . ... 350 

Florida steamers 3)077 4,218 

Other sources 1,811 2,840 

870,472 13,839 

Stock on hand September i, 1881 11,588 355 

892,060 14,194 



Exports of Cotton, Foreign and Coastwise, from the Port of 
Savannah from Sept. i, 1880, to Augiist ji, 1881, incbisive. 

Foreign — Upland. Sea Island. 

Liverpool i95,376 5,i33 

Havre 37,163 703 

Ghent i,943 

Corunna . , , ... 628 

Malaga 1,500 

Barcelona 29,022 

Passajes 1,250 

Santander ■'*... 1,100 

Sebastapol 5,000 

Reval 48,418 

Cronstadt 9,372 

Bremen 115,283 

Geneva 3,475 

Genoa 11,883 

Rotterdam 5,480 

Amsterdam 26,868 

Helsingfors 1,800 

Gothenburg 3,000 



Total 498,561 5,836 

Coastwise — 

New York 248,875 5,915 

Baltimore 69,465 1,823 

Philadelphia 30,706 40 

Boston • . 32,865 225 



Total coastwise 381,911 8,003 

Total foreign 498,561 5,836 

Total 880,472 13,839 



90 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



Sp 

Portugal . . . 
Buenos Ayres 
Montevideo . . 
Barranquilla . 
Gaudaloupe . . 
Greytown . . . 
Aspinwall . . . 
West Indies . 
Santander . . , 
Germany . . . 
Holland . . . 
Africa .... 



,305,090 
173,278 

■,310,705 
219,275 

843,156 
,482,992 

12,443 
60,000 
120,000 
179,870 
773,358 
204,424 
646,441 
10,489 
182,962 



Timber. 

3,308,292 

116,499 

315,415 



Exports of Lzanber and Thnber from the Port of Savanyiah 
from September ist to date. 

Coastivise — Lumber. 

New York 16,416,281 

Philadelphia 6,828,727 

Baltimore 5,887,506 

Boston 5,290,587 

Marcus Hook 193,100 

Washington, D. C 477,79o 

Belfast, Me 107,672 

Portsmouth, N. H 168,969 

Bath, Me 2,221,870 

New Haven 623,315 

Noank 11,144 

Portland 241,634 

Cottenville, S. I, 162,596 

New Bedford 129,967 

Kennebunk, Me . . .• 255,000 

Fall River . .' 1,056,135 

Wilmington, Del • 193,225 



120,141 
435,573 



Total 40,265,518 4,295,920 

Foreign — 

Great Britain . i. 

New Brunswick 

ain 



2,741,651 

30,078 

312,498 



11,708 



Total foreign 13,524,483 

Total coastwise 40,265,518 



Grand total 53,790,001 

Shipments from Darien and Doboy (yellow pine) 85,771,873 



231,783 



3,327,718 
4,295,920 

7,623,638 



Tabzclar Statement of Recepts of Naval Stores at Savan7iak 
from Septejnber i, 18^4, to September i, 1881. 

Spirits Tmpentine. Rosin. 

September i, 1874, to September i, 1S75 9,555 41,707 

September i, 1875, to September i, 1876 15,521 59,792 

September i, 1876, to September i, 1877 19,984 98,888 

September i, 1877, to September i, 1878 31,138 177,104 

September i, 1878, to September i, 1879 14,368 177,447 

September i, 1879, to September i, 1880 46,321 231,421 

September i, 1880, to September i, 1881 ,..,.. 5,470 282,386 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 9 1 

Stock of spirits Tiirpenti7ie on hand September ist, 1881, by 

Actual Count. 

Barrels. 

On Shipboard not cleared 300 

Savannah, Florida and Western Railway wh irf 3,582 

Savannah, Florida and Western Railway depot 246 

Central Rnilroad 168 

Plant's wharf ...."■ 40 

Katie's wharf 50 

Jackson's wharf 30 

Total 4,416 



Comparative Table of Receipts from Septe7nber i, 1880, to 
September i, 1881. 

Turpentine. Rosin. 

1879-80 1880-81 1879-80 1880-81 

Wilmington 95,584 82,194 507,702 435,290 

Savannah 46,321 54,703 231,420 282,386 

Charleston 59,865 51,113 250,940 231,384 

Mobile 25,109 19,622 158,482 133,816 

Bruns.wick 8,661 13,490 36,495 67,562 

Totals 235,540 221,122 1,185,039 1,150,438 



An analysis of this statement shows that Wilmington has fallen off in 
spirits turpentine 14 per cent., and in rosin 14 per cent. 

Charleston has fallen off in spirits turpentine i4>^ per cent., and rosin 
lYz per cent. 

Mobile has fallen off in spirits turpentine iiyi per cent., rosin i8>^ 
per cent. 

While the only increase has been at the Georgia ports — Savannah 
gaining 18 per cent, in spirits turpentine, and 22 per cent, in rosin ; 
Brunswick 55 per cent, in spirits turpentine, and 85 per cent, in rosin. 



Tonnage of the Port of Savannah from Septe')nber i, 1880, to 

Atigust 31, 1881. 

No. Tons. Men. 

American vessels entered 23 13,452 266 

American vessels cleared 32 18,728 367 

Foreign vessels entered • 292 205,602 4,224 

Foreign vessels cleared 270 191,344 3,977 

Total foreign 617 429,126 8,834 

Coastwise arrivals 344 469,953 10,432 

Coastwise clearances 333 467,019 10,439 

Total coastwise . 677 936,972 20,871 

Total foreign 617 429,126 8,834 

Grand total . , , . «,,,.. 1,294 1,366,098 29,705 



92 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Statement of Wool received at Savannah, from August, 1874, to 
A2igust, 1 88 1, inclusive: 

1874 405,165 pounds. ■ 1878 57(j^C02 pounds. 

1875 413,912 " 1879 544,169 

1876 367,582 " : 1880 810,983 

1877 419,446 " ; 1881 724.815 



Imports from September /, 1880, to August ji, 1881. 

Articles. ' Quantity. Value. 

Coffee, pounds 2,689,804 |307,196 

Kainit, tons 3,441 22,770 

Superphosphate, tons 3,749 64,712 

Guano, tons 1,516 31,027 

Steel rails, pounds • 8,989,328 154,667 

Steel blooms ... 154,549 

Cotton ties 56,134 

Salt, pounds ..,...; 26,853,291 41,707 

Molasses, gallons 52,207 10,185 

Wine, in casks, gallons 215 247 

Wine, in bottles, dozens 192 1,057 

Coal,tons.. 2,280 5,625 

Earthenware and china ... 2,133 

Bananas ... 5,918 

Oranges ... 1,595 

Pine-apples 52 

Grape fruit • ... 63 

Sapodillas . ,, - ... 1 

Cocoanuts • ... 6,871 

Shells 44 

Tomatoes ... 47 

Watermelons ... 5 

Sponges ... 3 

Tamarinds ... 10 

Stone ballast 704 

Soda water 576 

Spruce pine ... 7 

Clothing .' 145 

Cigars ... 13 

Sugar 480 

Stationery ... 181 

Oil paintings ... 58 

Boats ... 77 

Blue mottled soap ... 437 

Garden tiles ... 84 

Glassware ... 55 

Gin 166 

Dogs 20 

Zoedone ... 24 

Hides 25 

Grain bags • . . ... 2,731 

Total value $872,401 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 93 



BRUNSWICK. 

Animal Statement of the Commerce of the Port of 

Brtmswick. 



During the year 1880 341 vessels entered this port. Of these, 
55 entered from foreign and 286 from coastwise ports. Two hun- 
dred and eighty-seven carried our own flag, 22 that of Great 
Britain, 14 of Spain, 10 of Norway, 5 of Sweden, 2 of Germany, 
and I of Portugal. Of the 341 vessels, 5 were ships, 41 barks, 
48 brigs, and 247 schooners. The total tonnage of these vessels 
was 107,775, ^i^d the number of men employed by them 2,717. 

There were 332 clearances, 61 for foreign and 271 for domestic 
ports. The number of vessels in port on January i, 1 881, was 21, 
of which 9 were loading for foreign and 12 for coastwise ports. 
Of those bound foreign, 4 were destined for United Kingdom, 2 
for Montevideo, i for Rio Janeiro, i for Cuba, and i for Spain. 

Of the 332 vessels which cleared during the year, 115 were 
loaded by R. B. Reppard, 73 by Dodge & Fuller, 49 by D. C. 
Bacon, 28 by J. H. McCullough, 18 by Littlefield & Tison, 13 by 
Cook Bros. & Co., 5 by James Hunter, 4 by C. H. Dexter, 3 by 
J. McDonough, 2 by Charles Green & Co., 2 by Tunno & Co., 2 
by A. V. Wood, i by J. D. Sprunt, and i by Hilton Timber and 
Lumber Co. Sixteen cleared in ballast. 

Of the 61 vessels which cleared for foreign ports, 12 cleared 
for Spain, 10 for United Kingdom, 9 for Rio Janeiro, 9 for West 
Indies, 6 for Uruguay, 4 for west coast of Africa, 3 for Portugal, 
2 for Buenos Ayres, and i each for Pernambuco, Bahai, Ger- 
many, Canary Islands, Dutch Guiana and Halifax. 

The number of vessels entered in 1879 wa:s 220, the number 
cleared 225. There were, therefore, 121 more arrivals and 107 
more departures of vessels in 1880 than in 1879, an increase of 
over fifty per cent. 

In the foregoing statement no account is made of the several 
Steamers making regular trips to and from our port, 



94 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 

Comparative Statement of Exports for iSyg and 1880. 



ARTICLES. 



1880 



Amount. 



Value. 



1879 



Amount. 



Value. 



Lumber, foreign 

■' coastwise 

Timber, foreign 

Cotton, coastwise 

Spirits Turpentine, foreign . 

" coastwise 

Rosin, foreign 

" coastwise 

Wool, coastwise 

Rough Rice, coastwise . . . 

Wliale Oil, coastwise 

Sundries, foreign (including 

flour and provisions) .... 

Sundries, coastwise (including 

hides, tallow and wax) . . . 



,208,964 

,500,000 

265,060 

6.074 

602 

8,165 

6,330 

37,039 

78,246 

8,064 

30,770 



feet 

feet 

feet 

bales 

casks 

casks 

barrels 

barrels 

lbs. 

bushels 

gallons 



$184,522 

860,000 

38,787 

304,000 

7.386 

98,000 

23,637 
111,000 
23,000 
8064 
28,000 



16,079,139 feet 
31,000,000 feet 
2,468.536 feet 
5,899 bales 
2,720 casks 
6,841 casks 
15,019 barrels 
27.507 barrels 
68, coo lbs. 
8,367 bushels 
21,760 gallons 



6,224 



10,000 



Tatal Value \ $1,702,570 



$227,872 

465,000 

21,059 

339 000 

32,912 

102,605 

42,776 

80,000 

21,760 

10,450 

19,500 



6,467 



25.000 



$1,394,401 



[Note. — The business statement of Brunswick for 1881 is not 
yet made up, but the indications are that the increase will average 
above 20 per cent, on the business of 1880, and in lumber and 
naval stores, far in excess of that, while the number of vessels 
and tonnage has increased in still greater proportion.] 



SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 



95 



CHAPTER XI. 



List of Persons who may be Addressed for Infomnation 
in Relation to Southern Georoia. 



M. & B. R. R.— A. G. Butts Macon, Ga 

Griffin & McArthur, Eastman, 

A. G. McArthur, Lumber City, 

Wm. Pitt Eastman, Eastman, 

Maj. Chas. Armstrong, Eastman, 

A. G. P. Dodge, Eastman, 

Paul Carter, Baxley, 

C. C. Smith, • McRae, 

Hon. A. Clark, Jesup, 

W. H. Whaley & Son, Jesup, 

Willis Clary, Esq., Jesup, 

Henry R. Fort, Esq., Gardi, 

G. W. Wright, Sterling, 

H. C. Day, *. . Brunswick, 

J. M. Dexter, Brunswick, 

Dr. W. B. Burroughs, .... Brunswick, 

B. & A. R. R. — Hon. John M. Tison, Jamaica, 

R. M. Tison, Jamaica, 

Hon. T. W. Lamb, Brunswick. 

S. Mumford, Waynesville, 

Joseph Tillman, Waycross, 

E. Crawley, Waresboro, 

Col. W. A. McDonald, .... Waresboro, 

W. H. Love, Pearson, 

W. H. Lastinger, Alapaha, 

Hon. W. A. Harris, Isabella, 

Warren & Hobbs, Albany, 



96 SOUTHERN GEORGIA. 







S. F. & W. Ry.— Col. J. L. Sweat, ../... HomerviUe, Ga. 

Hon. C. A. Smith, Homerville, " 

J. W. Leigh, Esq., .... Centre Village, " 
" s Hon. John L. Harden, . . , Walthourville, " 

H. H. Sanford, Thomasville, " 

" John Stark, Esq., Thomasville, " 

" Judge A. H. Hansell, . i . . Thomasville, " 

Hon. W. D. Mitchell, .... Thomasville, " 

" R. H. Hardaway, Thomasville, " 

" John Triplet, Thomasville, " 

" Rev. Jas. A. McKee, Bainbridge, " 

Hon. B. A. Russel, Bainbridge, " 

" Dr. J. A. Butts, Bainbridge, " 

" Hon. Maston O'Neil, Bainbridge, " 

R. H. Harris, . Cairo, " 

" Lyon & Bush, Camilla, " 

J. L. Hand, Pelham, " 

T. A. Herviant, DuPont, " 

" S. T. Kingsbury, Quitman, " 

" A. D. Perham, Quitman, " 

John G. McCall, Quitman, " 

C. R. Pendleton, Valdosta, " 

" Hon. Hamp Smith, Valdosta, " 

" C. A. Stewart, ...••'... Valdosta, " 

T. P. Litdefield, Jesup, " 

" Hon. John C. Nicholls, .... Blackshear, " 

S. W. Hitch, Blackshear, " 

" R. B. Reppard, Savannah, " 

" E. E. Byrd, Blackshear, " 

" Warren Lott, Waycross, " 

Camden County — Hon. R. N. King St. Mary's, " 

Silas Fordham, ' St. Mary's, " 

" Hon. Joseph Shepard, .... St. Mary's, " 

W. A. White, St. Mary's, " 

'« James Bailey, Bailey's Mills, " 



iilllillll!lllllirilllllll!IIIIIIIIIil|IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISIIII{||illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllll± 






INDEX TO CHAPTERS. 



CHAPTER PAGE = 

I. The Railroad System of South Georgia 5-7 = 

II. General Description of South Georgia . 7-9 E 

III. Stations, Towns and Points of Interest on S., F. & W. Ry. 9-27 = 

IV. " " " " M. & B. R. R. . 28-37 I 

V. " ■' " " B. & A. R. R, . 3S-44 I 

VI. Description of Pierce County, as a sample of South Georgia E 

Counties 45-52 E 

VII. Articles upon Special Industries in South Georgia — Sheep E 

Husbandry, etc 53-63 E 

VIII Islands on Southern Coast of Georgia 63-66 = 

IX. Letters from Northern Settlers and others 67-87 E 

X. Statement of Export^, Imports and Tonnage, Savannah and E 

Brunswick 8894 E 

XI. List of Persons who may be Addre.=sed at Points on Lines : 

of Road 95-96 : 



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\^^«^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



